How much should we sue for?

My wife was raped at our apartment complex a few months ago. There weren't any witnesses, but CSI determinied that he was hiding in what would have been plain sight just under some security lights at the top of a staircase. The security lights have been out/broken for several months and they have been noted as such by security ever since they went out. We are arguing that if the security lights would have been operational, there wouldn't have been a rape in the first place because he wouldn't have had a hiding place, or there would have at least been witnesses. The rapist is still on the loose and it has shaken us to the core. The lights still aren't fixed, but every time that a light burns out that lights up one of their signs, it gets replaced immediately. We are both taking therapy and it seems like it's going to be a long road. The apartment complex let us break the lease, but other than that, they aren't doing anything for us. Should we sue? How much should we sue them for?

They know he was waiting up there and went back up there...they found the knife that he used to hold her down with up there.

Sue at a minimum for: (1) the actual cost of therapy, lost wages due to time taken off of work (2) $100,000 damages. No lower. This is just that serious.

A good attorney would get them to settle for at least $150-200K. You might even get $1.0-2.5MM, depending on the size of the apartment chain and how much they are willing to fork over to avoid bad press and embarrassment.

Check your lease and your local laws regarding renters. If the lease says anything about those lights, you're in. The local law may or may not require any standards about lighting.
No one can say if the lights had been working that she wouldn't have had this happen. Seems like kinda of a blame shift from the rapist to the landlord. It's natural to feel betrayal, but unless you have a filed complaint or even inquiry about those lights previous to the event, I don't believe you have a case.

if I were you I would sue, and for every penny I could get, I would put the price around 6 billion, Knowing that they will never allow that much, but you don't want to start small.
Hire an attorney.
don't let them give you a small settlement as you and your wife have a lot of healing to do. this usually takes many years so I would try to charge several million per year.
may God speed blessing to you

Talk this over with an attorney in your state.

This is negligence on the apartment managers part.

EDIT: To the kid below me. What is your bar number? I want to know where it is that you get your legal expertise from.

You could sue but you will not win because you have no civil case. why not try and focus on helping your wife. It is not reasonable to know a broken light would cause a rape and without the rapist you do not know what actually happened on;y what they think happen which will mean nothing in court.

Sue for negligence and damages. You always sue for much more than you think you can get. Your attorney will know how much to ask for. They will take the case on a contingency basis and will get a %.

this is obviously a superior court case.I advise you to get a lawyer to find out what your options are.

Yes Yes Sue. Money is going to make all the pain go away. Money is going help you and your wife forget this terrible thing.

Yes this is a terrible thing to happen to anyone. But when it comes down to it. The apartment complex didnt rape your wife.

Why should you sue someone because a lightbulb was out. They had nothing to do with rape.

i guess this is the american way. (So sad)

In order to sue they would first need to find the guy to prove he actually stood under the broken light. What the cops think he did will not hold up in court. If they find him and the broken light actually did shield him then you might have a case.