Monday, November 28, 2011

Attorney Says Lawsuit Planned in FAMU Band Death

Attorney Says Lawsuit Planned in FAMU Band Death: The family of a Florida A&M University drum major who died in what authorities suspect was a hazing incident will sue the school, an attorney said Friday.

The family of Robert Champion, 26, spent the holiday weekend planning Champion's funeral, attorney Christopher Chestnut said.

The Atlanta resident was found on a bus parked outside an Orlando hotel the night of November 19 after the school's football team lost to rival Bethune-Cookman. Police said Champion, a clarinet player who recently was named drum major, had been vomiting and complained he couldn't breathe shortly before he collapsed.

The cause of Champion's death hasn't been determined. Preliminary autopsy results were inconclusive, and a spokeswoman with the Orange County medical examiner's office said it could take up to three months to learn exactly what killed him.