Champion family lawsuit exposes ‘Crossing Bus C’

BY DEMORRIS A. LEE
SPECIAL TO THE FLORIDA COURIER

A pillowcase was allegedly put over Robert Darnell Champion’s head, preventing the drum major from getting oxygen. As he sat on the "Hot Seat" on Bus C, Champion was said to be punched, stomped and slapped by fellow band members and some alumni.

When Champion tried to escape, the bus driver of Bus C allegedly directed him to get back on the bus.

Bus company sued

On Tuesday, Champion’s family filed a wrongful death and negligence lawsuit against Fabulous Coach Lines and Wendy Millette, the driver of Bus C on that fateful day, Nov. 19, 2011. Fabulous Coach Lines, based out of Branford, Fla., provided transportation for FAMU’s band.

For the first time, details of how Champion was beaten to death after the Florida Classic football game have emerged in court documents. Law enforcement authorities have said Champion was killed. In the lawsuit, Champion’s family contends his death was a result of the famed "Marching 100" hazing ritual known to those within the band culture as "Crossing Bus C."

The family of FAMU drum major Robert Champion alleges that the driver of one of the band’s chartered buses participated in his death. (AP PHOTO/DON JUAN MOORE)

"On or about November 19, 2011, Defendant Millette was acting within the course and scope of her employment with Defendant Fabulous Coach, when she encouraged passengers on Bus C to engage in hazing rituals with the full knowledge and express or implied consent/permission of the Defendant Fabulous Couch," the lawsuit said.

Contacted this week by the Florida Courier, a Fabulous Coach employee declined to comment but did say that the company was aware of the lawsuit.

Previous complaints

Millette was always assigned to drive Bus C. Other bus drivers complained about band hazing incidents prior to Champion’s death but were told by Fabulous Coach’s administration to "ignore it and that FAMU was paying for it and could do what they want," the lawsuit said.

Champion, 26, died Nov. 19 shortly after FAMU participated in the annual gridiron battle between in-state rival Bethune-Cookman University. Several band members have been arrested and charged with hazing, but none have been designated as specifically responsible for Champion’s death.

In the lawsuit, Attorney Christopher Chestnut details the violence that Robert Darnell Champion’s family contends he endured during the last 76 minutes of his life.

Champion was one of six drum majors for the 375-member band. At about 6:30 p.m. after the football game, Champion, the other five drum majors and band director Dr. Julian White left the Florida Citrus Bowl and headed to the Rosen Plaza Hotel in Orlando in a limousine. The other band members rode one of the 11 Fabulous Coach charter buses. The band was staying at the Rosen Plaza Hotel during their time in Orlando. Fabulous also owned the limousine.

Back at the hotel, the buses were unloaded of equipment and the band members were released at about 8:30 p.m. That’s when the beating began, the lawsuit said.

Beaten for hours

"At a designated time after 8:30 p.m. and prior to 9:46 p.m., a series of hazing rituals were begun by members and/or alumni of the FAMU Band on one of the Fabulous Coach buses, specifically Bus C," the lawsuit said.

While all the other buses were parked in a group and lined side-by-side in a designated area, the lawsuit said that Bus C was parked in a separate area away from the other buses and in an "obscured corner of the parking lot at the Rosen Plaza Hotel." The bus was running and the interior lights were partially activated. Millette and other Fabulous Coach drivers were in the area of Bus C.

"At or around 9:30 p.m., Bus C was occupied by more than 20 FAMU Band members and/or alumni, all of whom have ‘pledged’ or had been initiated into the subsidiary section of the FAMU Band known as ‘Bus C,’ ’’ the lawsuit said.

The initiation process of Bus C required members to attempt to run down the center aisle from the front to the back of the bus. At the same time, the "Bus C posse" punched, slapped, kicked, hit with objects and yelled at the initiates.

Dragged back, beaten again

"Should the ‘pledge’ fall to the bus floor from the blows sustained to his or her body, the ‘pledge’ may be stomped and is then dragged back to the front of the bus and must begin the ritual again," the lawsuit said.

If a band member did not successfully complete the Bus C initiation, they are alienated, publicly embarrassed, prohibited from talking, eating, drinking, sleeping, smiling, looking around or laughing while a passenger on Bus C or during FAMU Band activities. They are also deprived of sleep, court documents detailed.

During the hazing, Champion was put on the "Hot Seat" and a pillowcase was put over his head to stop the flow of oxygen to his nose and mouth. With the pillowcase over his head, Champion was asked questions by a "hazer." If Champion answered a question correctly, he was given a brief amount of fresh air, but the pillowcase was immediately put back over his head.

"During this time, the victim is punched, slapped, kicked, or otherwise hit by members of the ‘Bus C posse,’" the lawsuit contends.

Tried to help

Another band member who was going through the initiation tried to help Champion.

"John Doe 1 observed the Hot Seat initiation of Decedent, and having previously completed the Hot Seat initiation, opined that the physical and verbal abuse by the initiated upon the Decedent was more brutal than normal," the lawsuit said.

"Consequently, John Doe 1 tried to stand up and help Decedent. John Doe 1 was immediately struck back down into the seat and pinned down as the physical punishment abuse continued upon Decedent."

Champion made it to the doorway of Bus C and began vomiting in the parking lot. Millette, the bus driver, was "standing guard at the bus" door, court documents said.

"Millette advised Decedent that he would be alright as she forced him back onto the bus," the lawsuit said. Champion was then "subjected to additional physical punishment."

At 9:46 p.m. a FAMU band member called 911 because Champion was no longer breathing, the lawsuit said. At 10:36 p.m., Champion was pronounced dead.