Last week we reported on the hazing death of Robert Champion and the pending legal claims. On Tuesday, Pam and Robert Champion, Sr., and their lawyer spoke with the press about their intent to file legal action on their son’s behalf.
In a video interview with the parents, attorney Chris Chestnut announced the family would sue Fabulous Coach Lines, citing negligence in a wrongful death lawsuit. Chestnut asserted that the absence of the driver while the bus was running is a contributing factor to the attacks that claimed Champion’s life.
With an official filing, Chestnut will be able to gather supporting documents, including witness statements that could strengthen the case against the bus company. They hope to answer a multitude of questions, like why approximately 30 people were left alone long enough for Champion to sustain the injuries that killed him.
According to outside reports, the nine bus drivers that were transporting the Florida A&M University (FAMU) group had gathered to do a fleet overview before leaving. It isn’t clear who or what first alerted the drivers to the incident, but what is evident is that they were too late to save a life.
President of Fabulous Coach Lines, Ray Land, assured reporters that his employees were acting in accordance to company policy’s and responded quickly to the emergency. He believes that there was nothing else his staff could have done. In light of the pending lawsuit, they have started to consult their lawyers on the preliminary documents submitted by Chestnut.
Land went on to respond that he doesn’t understand why a lawsuit is warranted in a situation where there wasn’t a crash involving the bus. This same type of scenario is seen in premise liability cases every year. Chestnut will likely try to prove that the bus company has a legal duty to ensure the safety of its passengers at all times.
Individuals close to Champion’s death indicate there were other factors – namely his sexual orientation – that contributed to the violence that night. Some have been quick to call it a hate crime, something Chestnut strongly contested.
“This is not a hate crime. This is a hazing crime. Florida A&M University has a 50-year history, a culture in this band, of hazing.”
Rumors have spread that the hazing ritual has occurred before on buses owned by Fabulous Coach Lines. We expect this detail to be fully investigated by Champion’s lawyers and law enforcement authorities.
Parker McDonald will continue to monitor the developments of the wrongful death of Robert Champion. For more information on how you can stop hazing, visit StopHazing.org.
(Photo courtesy of CNN online.)
