Parents Held Responsible for Son Stabbing Girl

An Ohio jury has voted to hold the parents of a 17-year-old "70 percent responsible" for his stabbing of a 15-year-old girl, awarding the girl and her parents $10 million in a civil lawsuit.

Ben White was 11 days short of his 18th birthday when he grabbed 15-year-old Casey Hilmer as she jogged, forced her into a wooded area and stabbed her in the throat, neck, face and side. He is serving a 10-year sentence for the attack.

A civil case jury decided that White's parents were 70 percent responsible for the harm he inflicted on the girl because they were negligent parents who knew their son had emotional problems and was known to carry a knife.

"That's a very strong message that parents of minors can be and will be held liable for not properly controlling and supervising their children," said Stan Chesley, attorney for the plaintiffs.

Moments before the stabbing, Chesley told the jury, the Whites pulled up in one of their many cars alongside their upset son as he walked down the street after a fight with his brother. "They decided a country club dinner was more important than staying with their son," Chesley said.

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