There seems to be some question as to whether the Martin family civil suit can go forward. Several readers pointed out that Florida law prohibits such civil suits if you have been found innocent in a criminal proceeding, but this July 15, 2013 USA Today article, while primarily about the U.S. Dept. of Justice pursuing a civil rights violation charge, also indicates that a civil suit is still possible:
Zimmerman would be immune to such a lawsuit only if he asked for a hearing under Florida's "stand-your-ground" law and a judge found he justifiably used force in self-defense in the face of an "unlawful threat," Reep said.
Zimmerman's lawyer, Mark O'Mara, commented Saturday night on the possibility of suits against his client.
"On the civil aspect, if someone believes that it's appropriate to sue George Zimmerman, then we will seek and we will get immunity in a civil hearing.
"We'll see just how many civil lawsuits are spawned from this fiasco."
He's judged not guilty but he'll have to live incognito in Montana, Idaho, or Wyoming if he's ever going to see his 40th birthday. He should get a fortune from NBC but his life will not be his own.
ReplyDeleteI guess Zimmerman doesn't face any possible civil lawsuits over this? Not sure of Florida law on that, but perhaps not since it hasn't been mentioned.
ReplyDeleteIn CA he probably would be.
Unless there's something that I don't know about Florida civil law, this does not block the civil suit from going forward, and it is at least possible that he could lose the civil suit.
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, he needs to move to a part of the country where he isn't going to spend the rest of the next five years looking over his shoulder. Although to be fair, most of this rage will be gone in the next six months. Some other source of rage will have taken over.
The police chief was right in those first 44 days. They fired him for it. HE should be filing a civil suit.
ReplyDeleteThere's another paper trail that needs to be followed as to why this story was a nothing story until weeks later when it ended up on the national news. It stinks to high heaven.
And listening to all the people talking about "Justice", it just makes me sick. Apparently justice has nothing to do with the facts. Even after the trial, the media is getting it all wrong, it has to be on purpose.
Part of Florida's eeeevil Stand Your Ground package of laws (as I remember) included immunity from civil lawsuits, see 776.032. It has teeth, ends with:
ReplyDelete(3) The court shall award reasonable attorney’s fees, court costs, compensation for loss of income, and all expenses incurred by the defendant in defense of any civil action brought by a plaintiff if the court finds that the defendant is immune from prosecution as provided in subsection (1).
After posting my comment I did a search and found several articles about the likely suit. All of the cable news outlets had mention of a likely suit last night and again this morning. So yeah, I think he will be sued and there's a fairly high chance he will lose that one. I wonder if he has money to fund that defense as we know this criminal defense wasn't cheap!
ReplyDeleteMany of the professional race baiters were on the cable shows this morning crying that the messiah (Obama) and his apostle (Holder) go after Zimmerman and get him for violation of Federal civil rights laws....so that is also a possible problem for him.
I also heard many of the non-White racists calling for the destruction of Zimmerman's life and relishing in that on the Cable shows! They will work to make sure he is harassed and can't get a job.
Obviously Zimmerman's hopes of a law enforcement career are over. He will have to find a sympathizer that can give him a job because otherwise he will have a very hard time finding one. Though I suppose some kind of book deal is possible. Some of the racists were lamenting Zimmerman might find an outlet doing the paid talk circuit.
Zimmerman's brother did a good job last night and this morning on various media interviews blasting the media for convicting Zimmerman before and during the trail. I saw a little bit of him talking to that
a$$ Piers Morgan ripping him for Morgan's attacking of his brother. Of course Morgan being the media harlot that he is acted like he was just being a great journalist working for the common good---what a crock!
Apparently FL does have a statute barring civil suits if a person is acquitted of a criminal case like this.
ReplyDeleteI don't have the citation, but that was pointed out to me by a retired FL states attorney, so I'm going to take it at face value.
Florida 776.032 (1) A person who uses force as permitted in s. 776.012, s. 776.013, or s. 776.031 is justified in using such force and is immune from criminal prosecution and civil action for the use of such force, unless the person against whom force was used is a law enforcement officer [summary: on duty and the defendant knew it or should have]
ReplyDeleteAngela Corey learns that George Zimmerman was found not guilty on all charges...
ReplyDeletehttp://youtu.be/svjISYrTMyk
Bazinga.
Eric, is there a Piers Morgan one of those?
ReplyDeleteIsn't it about time for the Libs to move on to a new target for the Two Minutes Hate?
ReplyDelete