Settlement reached in fatal shooting at Accent

Family members of one of the victims of a 2012 Minneapolis office shooting have settled their wrongful death lawsuit against Accent Signage Systems.

The family of Jacob Beneke sued the Minneapolis company in early 2013, arguing that it should have done more to protect its employees from co-worker Andrew Engeldinger.

Beneke, a 34-year-old graphic artist from Maple Grove, was one of six people Engeldinger shot and killed in the company's office in the Bryn Mawr neighborhood on Sept. 27, 2012.

Engeldinger, who had been informed he was being fired, took his own life in the incident.

This is the first known settlement to come from the incident — the state's deadliest workplace shooting.

Phil Villaume, the family's attorney, said he could not comment on the settlement, other than to say it had been "resolved by a mutual agreement."

He said no additional action would be taken in the case. Accent Signage Systems spokeswoman Wendy Khabie also declined to comment.

The suit alleges the company was aware that Engeldinger, who had worked at Accent since 1999, had a long history of mental health issues, was prone to bouts of violence and owned several guns.

A meeting about Engel­dinger's termination came after years of documented incidences of behavioral problems.

Beneke, who referred to Engeldinger as his "nemesis," knew his co-worker was to be fired Sept. 27. That day, he drove a different vehicle to work because he feared how Engeldinger would react to the news.

Engeldinger shot the two men who called him to the meeting: Rami Cooks, who was fatally wounded, and John Souter, who sustained significant injuries. He then left the office and shot and killed Beneke, along with Accent owner Reuven Rahamim, employees Eric Rivers and Ronald Edberg and UPS driver Keith Basinski.

Accent, the family said, did not provide additional security or take special precautions when meeting with Engeldinger — missed steps that they argued amounted to negligence.

After the suit was filed, Villaume told reporters the case was the most tragic he'd been a part of in more than 33 years of practicing law.

"There were people, we believe the evidence will show, that were in fear of their safety of this man," he said.