Zimmerman Rekindles Defamation Suit Against NBC

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Just under two weeks since a 6-member jury acquitted him of all charges in the shooting death of unarmed teen Trayvon Martin, George Zimmerman is ready to head back to a courtroom to restart his dormant defamation suit against NBC, the iMediaEthics.org Web site reported.

The case, Zimmerman v. NBC Universal Media LLC et al. (Case No. 2012CA006178), filed in Seminole County Circuit Court last December (see "TUOL" post 12/7/12), which alleges defamation and intentional infliction of emotional distress, was stayed last February per a motion by NBC pending the outcome of the criminal case against Zimmerman.

The suit concerns an edited tape of a 911 call placed by Zimmerman that aired on the Today show in March 2012, that the plaintiff alleges depicts him as racist. NBC apologized in April 2012,  for the edits made to the taped call and dismissed staffers involved in airing the story, including a reporter and producer who also are defendants in the suit.

Zimmerman is likely to have to prove actual malice to prevail in his suit, as the high-profile murder trial elevates him to the status of, at least, a limited public figure.

http://www.imediaethics.org/News/4056/George_zimmerman_moves_to_restart_libel_lawsuit_against_nbc_over_edited_911_tape.php 

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.