TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL)-- Florida A&M University reached a settlement Friday with the family of a drum major who died after being hazed by fellow band members.
It's been four years since Robert Champion performed at Bragg Memorial Stadium.
FAMU made headlines in 2011 with the news of the death of the Marching 100's drum major Robert Champion. Champion was beaten to death on the school's travel bus after an away game during a hazing ritual.
The incident led to the arrest of several band members and a civil lawsuit from Champion's family against FAMU.
Attorney Mutaqee Akbar explained why it was a negligence lawsuit.
"In negligence pretty much says that a person organization or corporation had a duty and as a result of the breach of that duty somebody was injured. And so they were saying that they had a duty to protect Robert Champion from any type of activities and he died as a result of the damages so it's basically the school paying for his death," said Mutaqee Akbar with Akbar Law Firm.
The settlement includes both monetary and non-monetary items.
$800,000 will be paid by an insurance company for the hotel where the hazing took place. FAMU's Board of Trustees will have to send a letter to the Champion family, start an anti-hazing program in Champion's name and place a plaque in his honor in the school's band room.
