A lawsuit has been filed against Clark Atlanta University by Gabrielle Bennett, a former student, over a catastrophic flash flood incident that took place on campus in September 2023. The deluge, described by FOX 5 Atlanta as resulting from "three-hours' worth of rain dumped on the city in just a matter of minutes" led to significant flooding throughout downtown Atlanta, notably impacting the Atlanta University Center.
During the event, over two inches of rain swiftly submerged the area. According to the lawsuit, Bennett was in her dorm room when a wall gave way, causing water to flood in and trap her leg by a slamming door. Her distress calls were met by fellow students who facilitated her rescue. Bennett claims the university and other entities did not adequately maintain the building, causing it to be susceptible to such flooding. She is seeking damages exceeding $100,000 to cover her medical costs.
The lawsuit implicates not just Clark Atlanta University but also the businesses that managed or serviced the dormitories, and three unidentified individuals, for negligence in building upkeep. "Plaintiff’s entrapment and injuries on the date of incident directly and proximately resulted from their failure to maintain, install, inspect for, and repair any aspect of the building that would have appropriately controlled the flow of water in and around Holmes Hall," is the phrasing detailed in the suit document obtained by FOX 5 Atlanta.
Post-flood, the Atlanta Department of Transportation has put measures in place including "No On-Street Parking" signs near the campus to prevent such mishaps during future deluges. The city has worked with the university to develop flooding countermeasures. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution quotes Greg Eyerly, commissioner for the Department of Watershed Management, as saying, "As part of our routine maintenance, we have proactively cleaned catch basins on surrounding streets within the Atlanta University Center Campuses." The Department of Watershed Management pledged a continued partnership with CAU, maintaining dedicated focus on the safety of the university community.
As the legal proceedings forge ahead, Clark Atlanta University has withheld comments on the matter. Bennett's representation seeks a jury trial to decide the compensable sum while the ramifications of the flood still echo in the efforts to make the campus area more resilient against future stormwaters.
