Comments on: George Zimmerman sues NBC over edited 911 tape
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- TheIrascibleOne - Thank you for doing the research and bringing this up to this forum. I for one did not know this. It does in fact show a pattern of deception by NBC. The suit is absolutely justified and I for one hope they win.
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- Zimmerman is running out of money, he would throw is whole family under the bus for cash. His lawyers are suing because of change in his statement made by an NBC Reporter
"The 24-page complaint alleges "NBC News saw the death of Trayvon Martin not as a tragedy but as an opportunity to increase ratings, and so set about to create the myth that George Zimmerman was a racist and predatory villain."
However he is a racist and predatory villain and has already labled himself as such. - Reply to this comment
- Manipulated journalism should be punished. NBC manipulated the facts to make Mr. Zimmerman appear racist right off the bat. Their reporting went beyond getting a story...it was meant to incite. How many other stories have they manipulated this way? I'm guessing there are many many more that we don't even know about. The court should fine the network and the people who deliberately misreported the story like there is no tomorrow. The Today show aught to be ashamed of themselves!
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- This sounds like something FOX would do in a heartbeat, then say it was a "mistake" when caught.
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- Zimmerman vs. NBC Universal Media, LLC, et al.,
TO: mark@markomaralaw.com
CC: jim.beasley@beasleyfirm.com
Friday, December 7, 2012 12:42 AM
Mr. O'Mara,
On December 6, 2012, you filed suit on behalf of George Zimmerman against, inter alia, NBC Universal Media LLC, (the "NBC defendants"), in the Circuit Court of the 18th Judicial Circuit for Seminole County, Florida, alleging Defamation and Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress.
The purpose of this email is to inform you that the suit fails as a matter of Florida law, and could properly subject you to sanctions.
At base, the crux of Zimmerman's suit is premised on the ill-conceived theory that he was somehow placed in a "false light" of being a racist when the NBC defendants edited the tape by omitting a certain small segment from the subject tape. That theory fails as a matter of law because the Florida Supreme Court held in Jesus v. Rapp, No. SC06-2491, --- So.2d ---, 2008 WL 4659374 (Fla. Oct. 23, 2008), that Florida does not recognize the tort of false light "because the benefit of recognizing the tort, which only offers a distinct remedy in relatively few unique situations, is outweighed by the danger in unreasonably impeding constitutionally protected speech." Id. at ---, 2008 WL 4659374, at*13. See also, Anderson v. Gannett Co., 33 Fla. L. Weekly S856 (Fla. 2008). Furthermore, Zimmerman's Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress claim is merely an extension of his defamation "false light" claim, and in order to prevail on that claim, he must first succeed on the underlying tort. And, as explained above, his defamation "false light" claim fails as a matter of Florida law and will be summarily dismissed for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted because Florida does not recognize the tort as viable cause of action.
Nor would Zimmerman succeed on a simple defamation claim because the suit does not allege nor can he allege that the NBC defendants made a false statement of fact about Zimmerman. Rather, the suit is based on an allegedly edited tape that purportedly omitted a small segment that placed him in a "false light" which is an unrecognized defamation tort in the State of Florida.
Moreover, the suit overlooks the fact that George Zimmerman was already perceived as a "racist" long before the subject tape ever surfaced. Zimmerman was perceived as a "racist" because he is a white Hispanic man who chased down a black unarmed 17 year old boy in the rain with a loaded 9mm gun, shot and killed him and wasn't arrested. Base on that backdrop, Zimmerman was perceived a 'racist'. The allegedly edited tape added nothing to that. Nor did it have any effect on whether or not the 'public' perceived then as they do now that Zimmerman is a racist.
Finally, George Zimmerman's very own cousin gave a written sworn statement to local police that stated unequivocally that the Zimmerman's were "racist". So, I suppose that she too should be named as a defendant in that suit.
Bottom line is, the suit is seen as nothing more than a last ditch attempt to distract attention from the underlying criminal case against Zimmerman and dun people of money to foot his financial situation. He has already dunned his supporters of money, and now he is focusing on the NBC Defendants like Ahab did on the whale.
With this having been said, you are on notice of the frivolity of the suit and the NBC defendants will vigorously defend it and could seek appropriate sanctions for the filing and service of the frivolous suit, because you know or at the very least, you know now that the suit is without merit.
Govern yourself accordingly. - Reply to this comment
- Good for George, this is not the first time NBC or MSNBC have been caught editing tapes. I hope he takes them to the cleaners.
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- Zimmerman and his law team are hard up for money.He would throw his mother under the bus for cash. I guess that his offer to sell his autograph for donations didn't go over so well.
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- GHETTO MOMS are responsible for this tragedy, They have squirted out
hundreds of thousands of babies and never taught a one any Self Control.
The schools, or police, or prisons, or decent gun owners are forced into the job of teaching their thug offspring self-control.
SAD
^ - Reply to this comment
- Aw shucks people! Stop arguing! You know this kid could of been Obama's son! Obama said so himself!
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- I think Travon was playing the knock out game. Travon had two problems, he wasn't good at the game, and the victim had a gun.
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