'Dangerous' Dave Beneteau (LLB '02) still fighting -- in courtrooms

'Dangerous' Dave Beneteau (LLB '02) still fighting -- in courtrooms

'Dangerous' Dave Beneteau (LLB '02) still fighting -- in courtrooms

Whether he's in a quiet courtroom or a raucous Ultimate Fighting Championship cage, "Dangerous Dave" Beneteau is a warrior, the Toronto Sun said in a July 18 profile of the 2002 York University law grad. The 6-foot-2, 265-pound giant has been pounding and pinning heavyweight wrestlers and brawlers into submission in almost 1,000 matches. Now, the 37-year-old rookie defence lawyer is trying to prevent the state from pinning his clients. "As a guy who used to ride a Harley-Davidson motorcycle, I've witnessed first-hand police abuse and I've had my rights tramped on numerous occasions," Beneteau said. "I've always had an interest in civil liberties and that drew me to law school." Before his courtroom days, Beneteau was once ranked fifth in the world in mixed-martial arts in the late '90s, having defeated the undisputed heavyweight champ, Brazilian Carlos Barreto. And Beneteau paid for his legal education at York’s Osgoode Hall Law School the hard way – in the ring. The Sun also mentioned his York education in a July 17 story.