May 02--The Rosen Plaza hotel has been added as a defendant in the wrongful-death lawsuit of FAMU drum major Robert Champion, who was beaten to death in a hazing ritual on a bus in the Orlando resort's parking lot.

The Champion family's lawyer claims that Rosen's operators and its security team should have known that a hazing was reasonably likely to occur on the premises. The lawsuit alleges that marching band members were involved in a hazing on the hotel's 18th floor about six months earlier -- an incident that led to the suspension of 30 members of the Marching 100.

The suit, which previously accused FAMU, the bus company and its driver of allowing the hazing to take place, alleges that the parking lot was dimly lit, lacked security and surveillance cameras which could have deterred the hazing.

Champion, 26, one of a half dozen drum majors for the famed marching ensemble, died Nov. 19, 2011, after a ritual on the parked bus during which he was punched, kicked and belted with drum straps, mallets and a traffic cone.

The hazing led prosecutors to charge 14 members of the band in Champion's death, prompted the sudden retirements of the university president and its longtime band director, and resulted in the suspension of the iconic band.

The hotel's press representative did not immediately respond to a call and an email seeking comment.

Circuit Judge Walter Komanski, who is presiding over the civil dispute, has not yet ruled on FAMU's request to toss out the case, though a hearing on the issue was held in November. The family is seeking an undisclosed amount of compensation, but last year rejected FAMU's settlement offer of $300,000, calling it "insulting."

The fatal hazing occurred during the Florida Classic weekend, which includes a Battle of the Bands and the annual football clash at the Citrus Bowl between Florida A&M University and its Sunshine State rival Bethune-Cookman University.

The newly amended lawsuit, filed this week in Orange County, contends FAMU anticipated at least $1 million from the weekend's ticket sales, endorsements and apparel sales.

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