Verizon Sued After Repairman Assaults Customer In Queens

A Queens man is suing Verizon for employing a repairman who assaulted him in December 2008 at his Sunnyside apartment. Aubrey Isakson says he became suspicious when the worker, Robert Benjamin, wanted to access his apartment, because Verizon had told him that wouldn't be necessary. When Isakson asked to see some identification, Benjamin went berserk, slapping his ID card in his face, saying, "You want to know my name? Here's my name." According to Isakson, Benjamin then punched him repeatedly, breaking his glasses, and squeezed him around the neck, pressing him up against the wall: "He's prepared to kill me. That's all I could think of." Isakson broke free and scrambled downstairs, fracturing his ankle along the way. Benjamin, who had been chasing Isakson, was subdued by a neighbor and arrested, but the Queens DA agreed to dismiss the case if Benjamin stayed out of trouble for six months. A spokesperson for Verizon tells the Post, "In the months since this incident, his conduct has been blameless. As a result, we will not take further action." The kicker? Two days after the fight, Verizon's technical service department called Isakson to say they fixed the problem and didn't actually need to send their skull-cracking repairman in the first place!

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By John Del Signore in News on August 17, 2009 11:15 AM

Comments [rss]

NannyState

Let's hope this cable guy's next call is at the Blue Flame Restaurant Supply Co. in Harlem.

Mr Mel

I think the Verizon guy was the one from those awful commercials where the cable guy is constantly being outwitted by the over- the- top features that Verizon claims to have. He belongs in jail as well.

JacqueMehoff

why did they need to check the inside of the apartment,

that service costs extra.

Dirk

So assaulting a customer doesn't immediately get you fired? Geez... who the hell runs things at Verizon?

streber

Ivan G. Seidenberg, who earns over 19 million a year.

Kojak

I'm thinking the same thing. He must've been a Union member.

Brooklynbobby

They're all union members. Explains everything.

TrippinJoJo

wow just reading the headline with the cable guy picture alone is excellent.

jaycjay

Could have been worse. At least he is still alive:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/18/AR2009061802995.html

jaycjay

Er... second comment wasn't supposed to be a reply.

jaycjay

"wow just reading the headline with the cable guy picture alone is excellent."

But not as creative as many Gothamist photo choices, since the Post story included the same Cable Guy photo.

I mean, we at least should be able to expect some Photoshopped improvement on the pic.

militza

'Benjamin went berserk, slapping his ID card in his face, saying, "You want to know my name? Here's my name." According to Isakson, Benjamin then punched him repeatedly, breaking his glasses, and squeezed him around the neck, pressing him up against the wall'

*pfft*

I do that all the time, even when I'm not at work.