Family of Hailey Brooks sues city of Raleigh, two city employees for her death in 2022 Raleigh Christmas Parade

The family of the 11-year-old girl killed in the 2022 Raleigh Christmas parade has filed a lawsuit against several people for her wrongful death.

Specifically, the lawsuit filed on Oct. 10 on behalf of the late Hailey Brooks names:

• The city of Raleigh
• Whitney Schoenfeld, the city of Raleigh’s interim senior manager of special events
• Kirk Archer, the city of Raleigh’s special event planner

“Hailey’s death was completely avoidable,” the lawsuit states.

An out-of-control truck driven by Landen Glass hit Brooks on Nov. 19, 2022, near the intersection of Hillsborough Street and North Boylan Avenue during the Raleigh Christmas Parade.

“Hailey and her family loved the Raleigh Christmas Parade,” the lawsuit reads. “The Brooks family hopes the Raleigh Christmas Parade will continue for many more generations.

“This action is brought to ensure that those responsible for Hailey’s death are held accountable and to ensure that no other child or person is hurt or killed by the recklessness of those entrusted with and responsible for the safety of the children and attendees at this Raleigh tradition.”

A city of Raleigh spokesperson responded to the lawsuit, saying, “We cannot comment on pending or active lawsuits.”

The family is also suing the Greater Raleigh Merchants Association (GRMA), the organizers of the Raleigh Christmas Parade.

WRAL News has also reached out to the GRMA.

Specifically, the lawsuit states the city, Schoenfeld, Archer and the GRMA:

• Did not identify an obvious hazard
• Did not identify crowd managers or a plan for the role of crowd managers
• Failed to conduct a hazard analysis for the parade
• Failed to inspect vehicles used in the parade
• Did not request information from Glass about his driving history or training prior to the parade

The lawsuit said GRMA and Raleigh police officers saw “Glass weaving through the same maze and then accelerating his truck into the parade lineup chasing after the other CC & Co. float while the children were told to abandon their dance routines and run after the first float.”

According to the lawsuit, GRMA and the city “allowed this chaos to occur and did not stop the truck, stop the parade or take any steps to bring order to the chaos.”

The lawsuit states the Brooks family seeks tens of thousands of dollars in compensation.

Organizers of several parades in Raleigh have canceled due to city guidelines in the wake of Brooks’ death. It includes the decision to cancel the North Carolina Veterans Day Parade for the second year in a row.

In early October, attorney Jason Miller said the Brooks family reached settlements with C.C. & Co., D and L Floats and Glass.

In September, parents Trey and April Brooks dropped a civil suit filed against Raleigh-based C.C. & Co.

The Brooks family sued in April 2023, claiming that Hailey’s death in November 2022 was “a result of the gross negligence and recklessness of Landen Glass and the organizations and individuals entrusted with ensuring the safety of the parade’s participants.” The GRMA (doing business as Shop Local Raleigh) and D&L Floats were also defendants in the case.