The family of Robert Brooks, a Greece man who died after an incident involving correction officers at Marcy Correctional Facility in Oneida County, has filed a lawsuit against New York state, according to the family's attorney.

Last month, the office of state Attorney General Letitia James released body camera footage of the Dec. 9 incident, which shows multiple correction officers hitting Brooks, 43, while he was restrained at the prison. He died the next day at a hospital in Utica, according to the state attorney general's office. Brooks was serving a 12-year sentence for stabbing his girlfriend in 2016.

The family and several groups allege the activity is part of a larger pattern of behavior that was ignored by leaders in the State Corrections Department and other levels within the state.

They are calling for sweeping change.

“My son, they sentenced him to 12 years — hold him accountable for what he did," said Robert Ricks. "So, I'm of the mindset that they should be held accountable as well."

Brooks hopes that accountability can be achieved, in part, by a new lawsuit filed on behalf of the Brooks family.

“This definitely sent shock waves through the entire system,” said Brooks’ family attorney Stephen Schwarz. 

There is little doubt about that after body-worn camera footage surfaced of the brutal beating that Brooks suffered at the hands of those who worked at Marcy Correctional Facility. Schwarz filed a second lawsuit Tuesday night, alleging New York state failed to properly hire, supervise, retain and train the corrections officers allegedly involved – making the state liable for its employees’ actions.

“The lawsuit is to try to get compensation for the family," Schwarz said. "But the family feels very deeply that change needs to occur as a result of this, that this is just the moment in history that may be a pivot point for that kind of change to occur."

“Anyone that had a part in this, whether it be a finger or a hand, I think they should be held accountable and in more ways than one,” said Brooks.

In more developments, information from a hearing reveals Brooks was moved to Marcy from Mohawk Correctional for “his safety” after being involved in two altercations with inmates.

“Ridiculous. Ridiculous," Ricks said of the latest news. "If you watch the video, they were beating on my son on his way into the building. So, you're taking him someone to make him somewhere to make him safer. And you murder him, and you kill him, and you give him a worse beating than any other prison prisoner could have given him. Because at least someone would have been there to break it up. No one was there to break it up. No one was there to say stop. So, that don't make sense. It doesn't make sense. Especially considering the fact that he was only there 20 minutes before there was an emergency medical emergency — the medical emergency that caused his demise. So, no, don't tell me that. Don't tell me that. I believe that you took him there to murder him.”

Robert Ricks will take part in a community forum next week at East High School called “How Many More? A Call for Change, Action, and Accountability”.

The event will include remarks from Mr. Ricks, a panel discussion with local leaders and performances by youth from Mentors Inspiring Boys & Girls.

This is the second lawsuit filed on behalf of the Brooks family. The first one names 17 people and seeks to hold them accountable for Brooks’ death.

Attorneys say they are in the early stages as some of those defendants are still being served.

The criminal case is also ongoing with a special prosecutor from Onondaga County.

More than a dozen correctional facility staff members have been suspended without pay as the investigation into Brooks' death continues. An additional employee resigned before he could be suspended, officials say.

A number of state lawmakers and activists have called for the prison to close following the incident and multiple bills have been proposed in response to Brooks' death.

In recent weeks, leadership with the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision say they are committed to preventing an incident like this from happening again. They also have said that they already have implemented changes, including increasing the supervision of officers.