Zimmerman Sues NBC News Over Trayvon Martin Coverage

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Facing trial for second-degree murder for allegedly shooting teenager Trayvon Martin last February 26, George Zimmerman has filed a 24-page Verified Complaint against NBC News and three broadcast journalists, including counts alleging defamation and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

In George Zimmerman v. NBC Universal Media, LLC et al (Case No. 2012CA006178), filed this week in Circuit Court in Seminole County in Florida's 18th Judicial District, the plaintiff claims defendants NBC News and its then-correspondents Ron Allen, Lilia Rodriguez Luciano and Jeff Burnside covering the story that captured national attention allegedly misreported and deliberately edited the audio of a 911 call Zimmerman made to police that purportedly falsely depicted him as "a racist and predatory villain," according to his complaint.

The suit, reported by the Legal Intelligencer (www.law.com), seeks compensatory and punitive damages. Zimmerman contends the allegedly doctored audiotape of the 911 call and alleged misrepresentations by the defendant journalists about the shooting incident have subjected him to death threats. No date has been set for the criminal trial in which Zimmerman entered a plea of not guilty.