Lawyer beaten in robbery attempt

A partner in the Dilworth Paxson L.L.P. law firm was recovering from neurosurgery yesterday after he was found beaten with a brick Thursday night at 63d Street and Passyunk Avenue, the second such attack in that area in as many nights, police said.

Gino J. Benedetti, 45, was attacked about 7:30 p.m. as he got out of his Acura in a parking lot between a car wash and a video store, said Lt. John Walker of the Southwest Detectives Special Investigation Unit.

Walker said the attempted robbery was strikingly similar to a robbery that occurred Wednesday night at 61st and Passyunk in which a 64-year-old man was approached by two men who hit him in the head with a brick after he surrendered his wallet. In that case, the man was treated at a hospital, receiving stitches.

"We're thinking the same thing happened here," Walker said.

Benedetti apparently fought back and did not surrender his property - police recovered his wallet and his cell phone. After being struck, he staggered into the Venus Video store, where an employee called police. Walker said a bloody red brick was recovered at the scene.

Benedetti, the chief of the firm's labor and employment law group, was taken to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, where he underwent surgery. Walker said Benedetti was in no condition to be interviewed yesterday.

"He was really severely beaten," said Joseph H. Jacovini, chairman of the firm, who visited Benedetti yesterday morning. "When I saw him, he had recovered consciousness, and his doctors were optimistic as to his recovery."

Police said Benedetti left the law firm at 18th and Market Streets in Center City at 6:30 p.m.

"You hear all the time about random violence - shootings, muggings, killings," Jacovini said. "This brings it home. Something has to be done."

Benedetti has been with Dilworth for about a year. He was formerly a partner in Miller, Alfano & Raspanti. He is a board member of the Police Athletic League.

He lives in Media and is known as an avid bicyclist. Jacovini said Benedetti sometimes cycled to work.