ATLANTA (CN) - The roommate of the Florida marching band member who died from hazing in November claims in court that Cox Media defamed him by calling him one of the perpetrators of the hazing, though he was a victim of it.
Keon Hollis sued Cox Media Group dba WFTV and WFTV Inc., in Fulton County State Court.
Hollis, a senior at Florida A&M University, claims that WFTV published an article on its website that falsely reported that the school had suspended him after the death of Robert Champion.
"The article falsely states that plaintiff was suspended by Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University ('FAMU') in connection with the hazing-related homicide of Mr. Robert Champion ('Mr. Champion')," the complaint states. "It was clear from the outset that plaintiff Hollis was never suspended, and was a victim, rather than a perpetrator, of hazing on the night of Mr. Champion's death. Indeed, defendants' source for the article expressly disavowed all statements associating plaintiff with the homicide and alleged suspension before defendants published the article. Defendants nevertheless published the article, leading readers and members of the public to believe that Hollis hazed Mr. Champion and ultimately caused, or contributed to the cause of, his tragic and untimely death. Defendants negligently published the article and published it with a reckless disregard for truth or falsity."
Hollis, who was Champion's roommate, is also a drum major and a member of the school's now-notorious marching band, "the Marching 100".
According to the complaint, "the Marching 100," which was established in 1892, has performed at high-profile events such as the Super Bowl, presidential inaugurations and the Grammy Awards, and has been featured on TV shows and in national commercials.
"Known for precise and disciplined routines, members of the Marching 100 have been, and are, a tightly knit group, not unlike fraternities and sororities in the collegiate Greek system," the complaint states.
"Within the Marching 100, members formed separate, and often secret, subgroups, which also resembled fraternities and sororities.
"These subgroups, known as the Clones, Thunder, Gestapo, Red Dawgs, Screaming Demons, B Tone Express, Whales, and The Z, have been historically based on a variety of common bonds among various band members, such as the section of instruments played by particular groups or the area of the country from which students came prior to attending FAMU and becoming members of the Marching 100.
"The culture of camaraderie and discipline also involved a deeply rooted and entrenched tradition of hazing which pervaded the Marching 100 as a whole, as well as each of the subgroups.
"Over the years, various hazing rituals were used by Marching 100 members in an attempt to galvanize and indoctrinate members into the Marching 100, as well as into the secret and select subgroups of the Marching 100.
"Hazing is part of a longstanding tradition within the Marching 100, and, on information and belief, has been carried out with the knowledge of FAMU faculty members and, in some cases, has occurred in their presence.
"Less senior students often submitted to hazing as a means to attain the respect and trust of their fellow Marching 100 members and/or to gain admission into the various subgroups of the Marching 100.
"Students who refused to be hazed were ostracized and faced isolation and disrespect.
"One of the most brutal hazing traditions at FAMU is an event known as 'Crossing Bus C' or 'Crossing Over'.