In a ridiculous effort to drop the wrongful lawsuit against them, FAMU legal team claims that Robert knew what he was doing and basically it's his fault for his own death.
Here's more:
FAMU's legal team contends that the school should not be blamed when the young man died doing something he knew was against state law and university policy. The university's attorneys cited Hollis' sworn statement, released last week, that explained the reasons why he and Champion agreed to be hazed after the Florida Classic football game in Orlando on Nov. 19.Really? The Champion family attorney was stunned at this motion, and I am too. To say it's the student's fault almost protects the hazing culture.
"In the final analysis, neither Mr. Champion, Mr. Hollis, hotel security, nor law enforcement experts — with all their specialized crime prediction and prevention training and resources — were able to predict or prevent this shocking and depraved hazing incident, and therefore, it would be unfair and illogical to hold FAMU to a different and higher level of omnipotence," according to the document, authored by attorney Rick Mitchell of GrayRobinson of Orlando.
"Respectfully, as a 26 year old adult and leader in FAMU's band, Mr. Champion should have refused to participate in the planned hazing event and reported it to law enforcement or University administrators. Under these circumstances, Florida's taxpayers should not be held financially liable to Mr Champion's Estate for the ultimate result of his own imprudent, avoidable and tragic decision and death."
How can they blame Robert for this terrible incident? Are they aware of the message they are sending to the public? Their response is weak and unacceptable.
FAMU needs to be held accountable for this bullsh*t.
4 comments:
He was partly to blame.
Did he hate part of himself?
If some one is hurting/hitting you go seek help. Yes he was partly to blame.
They're blaming the victim. Part of the reason for laws against hazing is that the culture forces the victims to participate or face exclusion and the culture further punishes any whistleblower.
This won't hold up. It has ramifications for many other areas of laws. "He shouldn't have bought that car knowing it was one of the top ten stolen cars in the US."
@Leland why would you blame the victim for his own death? The process of getting to any organization has its "costs" but I don't believe death is suppose to be one of them.
FAMU is covering their asses because they are afraid that if it is ruling against them it will be a cause they won't able to pay figuratively and literally to their reputation.
I agree with Sean and Leland on this. It is not his fault for his death. That culture forces them to do tasks in order to be accepted. This won't hold up. It is obvious that the FAMU and the hazing killed this child. FAMU's reputation has been stained.
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