By Xavier James
"Don't do business with him," cautioned one of the roofers outside of court. "He's a flim flam man." After spending countless hours working on Bennett's deteriorated house, trying to bring it up to code, Charles K. Bennet stopped answering his phone. The residence, located on 49th street in Newport News proved to be a difficult task. A steep, two story house with rotten wood is extremely hazardous.
City Inspectors spent years trying to force the slumlord to fix up his property. According to sources, it was after receiving multiple citations that's Charles K. Bennet decided to run his scam. "The guy is as slippery as an eel," said a long time carpenter who refused to give his name. I bet if you dig deeper he's doing more then just scamming us."
The head of Diverse Services, J. Cason, who was also the lead plaintiff in the suit smiled as he left court. "His house was so run down the mail man even refused to deliver his mail, calling it a death trap. I guess that should have been my first red flag."
The Carpenter called it "A house of Horrors." The dilapidated house Charles K. Bennet lived in. "You should have seen the inside. It's hard to believe a guy his age kept his house so filthy.
He's his own slum lord. It was repugnant!"
The dangerous work performed by roofing companies is often overlooked.
