Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University has refused to take responsibility for the death of Robert Champion, as evident in the legal papers filed Monday.

Lawyers for Florida A&M University offered a seemingly blunt response to a lawsuit over the death of Robert Champion as a result of a hazing incident, essentially saying there was no one to blame for the tragedy but Champion himself, reports Reuters.

"Florida's taxpayers should not be held financially liable to Champion's estate for the ultimate result of his own imprudent, avoidable and tragic decision and death," says the 23-page motion, filed by the university lawyers, seeking dismissal of a wrongful death lawsuit filed by Champion's family in Orange County circuit court.

The university has been dealing with the increasing number of hazing reports among its fraternities, sororities, clubs and groups, but the Champion's death in last November was a real shocker to the institution.

He was a member of the Marching 100, the nationally acclaimed band of FAMU which was named the 'Best Marching Band in the Nation' by Sports Illustrated in August 1992. He died after he was beaten by fellow members of the band aboard a charter bus parked outside an Orlando hotel.

Initially, the Champion family's wrongful death claim filed in February was against the charter bus company that owned the vehicle as well as against the bus driver.

But, the lawsuit was amended to add FAMU as a defendant in July.

"No public university or college has a legal duty to protect an adult student from the result of their own decision to participate in a dangerous activity while off-campus and after retiring from university-sponsored events," states the filing.

The filing also states that Champion had seen two others getting hazed, but still went through the ritual as to gain respect from fellow musicians in the band, reports Orlando Sentinel.

FAMU's legal team still contends that the school should not be blamed when the Champion knew that what he was doing was against the university policy.

But, the Champion family alleges that the university failed to acknowledge the seriousness of the reported hazing incidents within the band prior to his death, reports The State.

Apart from the suit on the university, 12 others-former members of the band- involved in the hazing incident are facing felony hazing charges, while two others face misdemeanor counts. They have reportedly pleaded not guilty.

The lawyers for the university want the judge to dismiss the family's claims against the school or defer his ruling until the criminal cases are resolved.