The grief-stricken family of a 15-year-old Phoenix high school athlete who tragically drowned last year has filed a $50 million lawsuit against multiple parties, including the Phoenix Union High School District. Christopher Hampton, a football player, was part of a team event at Show Low Lake in July 2023 when the incident occurred. The Navajo County Sheriff's Office undertook a prolonged search, eventually discovering Hampton's body in the lake the following day, Fox 10 Phoenix reported.
The lawsuit, which follows a previous notice of claim and was sparked by an in-depth sheriff's report, accuses coaches and administrators of negligence. These school officials reportedly knew about Hampton's inability to swim but still allowed the students to swim at the lake. Compounding the tragic oversight, the coaches did not notice Hampton's absence until it was too late. According to an interview with the family's attorney, Benjamin Taylor, obtained by Arizona’s Family, "Coaches and administrators were warned not to go swimming and knew Christopher could not swim. However, they still took students to Show Low Lake. They blatantly disregarded warning signs and left Christopher behind after the headcount."
The Phoenix Union High School District adopted a new policy sharply restricting activities during student travel, including banning swimming, rock climbing, and other activities deemed high-risk. The head football coach and athletic director have also tendered their resignation. This information comes from a statement issued by the family on March 4.
The lawsuit names several defendants: the Phoenix Union High School District, the Blue Ridge Unified School District, the City of Show Low, and Recreation Management of America. Each is accused of negligence or gross negligence. The suit aims to hold all responsible parties accountable for the series of events leading up to Hampton's death. “In a lawsuit, you have to encompass everybody to make sure that everybody is found liable and to make sure that Christopher Hampton gets justice because all of these people played a part in Christopher Hampton’s death,” Taylor told Arizona’s Family.
Now the defendants face a decision; they have approximately 20 days to settle or prepare for a potential trial, albeit they could request an extension.
