Court rules for NBC in George Zimmerman defamation case

[SpatiallyAware]

1) I read the article.
2) the sound bites they used had no effect on his image which was already in the garbage.
3) Zimmerman actually said worse things in the 911 call that make him steel like he profiled Trayvon, like calling him an 'A-Hole' that 'Always gets away' and a 'f-ing punk'. Unless NBC made him say those things, he has no case.
4) sticks and stones. It seems to me that you're more red in the face over this devastating loss on the behalf of Zimmerman and want to yell at someone instead of understanding that his litigation career is over.

Never heard of him calling the police on white guys. Let's hear the recording?

I think it is safe to say that the overwhelming number of calls to the police involved minorities conducting lawful activities or things that have nothing to do with the police.

Sorry scorp, the personal attack was unjustified even in P&N. I'm going to bow out of this thread as a courtesy.

 

[Sc0rp]

Not with the 5th DCA, she's had several decisions overruled.

She's been a judge in Florida for 15 years. Show me a single judge that has never had a single decision appealed in 15 years. Her record is exemplary. But fine, if you disagree, name a judge with her pedigree or better than has never had a ruling appealed in 15 years.

 

[Sc0rp]

Are you on drugs like trayvon? This is pretty crazy talk, even from a thug supporter. This is real airdata level stuff.

I don't know who this air data is, but I know that all you have at this point is name calling and childish insults that don't actually defeat anything that I said.

 

[Sc0rp]

You very clearly watched the trial through skittle tinted glasses.

The trash thug was an experienced streetfighter. He went home, stashed his dope, then returned to assault an innocent upstanding citizen.

Trayvon brutally attacked zimmerman had out of nowhere, and had no right to do so. The situation (if you can call it that) had de-escalated.

If trayvon had killed zimmerman he would've been in jail for premed murder. He went home, and just couldn't handle that beige-ish brown-ish guy stopping from robbing yet another home in the community.


Even dee dee, the superstar witness of the decade, 100% supported zimmerman with every statement she made.

Assertions. Go away. You're not worthy of a real response.

 

[Sc0rp]

I am no First Amendment attorney, but I find it curious that this opinion would have dismissed the case based, at least in large part, on the notion of Zimmerman being a public figure - I would certainly not consider him one for purposes of a defamation claim.

I have always felt the greatest deficiency of the case was damages, since it seems unlikely to me that NBC's editing (which was certainly irresponsible) caused Zimmerman any harm. He was already a highly controversial figure, vilified by many, when they aired their story, and frankly I don't think the editing materially affected anyone's perception of Zimmerman in a way that caused him any damages.

I am amused, if unsurprised, that people are still predicting a life of wealth and privilege for Zimmerman despite all the evidence to the contrary. The NBC case, even if it's successful, will at best earn him enough money to pay off his criminal lawyers. No publisher will give him a significant advance on a book, and if he publishes one it won't sell. If any publisher thought otherwise, the book would have emerged by now. I would be surprised if Zimmerman ever achieves becoming middle class, much less wealthy.

Absolutely correct. Tho Zimmerman is a public figure because, by the time NBC came along, he was already infamous and during the fallout after the shooting, he actively put himself in the public limelight by actively engaging people in the media and making his own website about himself. He also submitted evidence during the trial, that he thought would help him, that he had been getting involved in public events and putting his name out there in the public long before the shooting.

 

[thraashman]

You very clearly watched the trial through skittle tinted glasses.

The trash thug was an experienced streetfighter. He went home, stashed his dope, then returned to assault an innocent upstanding citizen.

Trayvon brutally attacked zimmerman had out of nowhere, and had no right to do so. The situation (if you can call it that) had de-escalated.

If trayvon had killed zimmerman he would've been in jail for premed murder. He went home, and just couldn't handle that beige-ish brown-ish guy stopping from robbing yet another home in the community.


Even dee dee, the superstar witness of the decade, 100% supported zimmerman with every statement she made.

You get on him for making claims without backing it up and then you go and just make shit up yourself. Which is something you've done for every situation involving a minority getting shot. You have a serious problem man. Well, multiple probably.

 

[SpatiallyAware]

Assertions. Go away. You're not worthy of a real response.

Assertions?? What part of that post was an assertion? These are facts which have been heavily discussed in the trial and the other thread.


The root of the case is that trayvon made the specific choice to double back and viciously assault zimmerman. Even if (he didn't) zimmerman had pointed a gun at or threatened trayvon, he can't then go home, stash his dope, then return to the scene and try to murder him.


All other facts aside (all of which support zimmerman anyway), the biggest point of this case which proves zimmerman's innocence is the fact that trayvon had to have doubled back for them to cross paths again. Trayvon chose to return to the scene. Obviously a poor choice, but it's his row to hoe.

 

[Sc0rp]

Assertions?? What part of that post was an assertion? These are facts which have been heavily discussed in the trial and the other thread.


The root of the case is that trayvon made the specific choice to double back and viciously assault zimmerman. Even if (he didn't) zimmerman had pointed a gun at or threatened trayvon, he can't then go home, stash his dope, then return to the scene and try to murder him.


All other facts aside (all of which support zimmerman anyway), the biggest point of this case which proves zimmerman's innocence is the fact that trayvon had to have doubled back for them to cross paths again. Trayvon chose to return to the scene. Obviously a poor choice, but it's his row to hoe.

Blahdeblahblahblah. You're not worthy of a real response. That's the end of it with you.

Edit: I will respond to one point you made.

The root cause was Zimmerman deciding to leave his vehicle and run after someone that was moving away from him based on him forming a broad opinion about them and not based on them actually committing any observable offense with any material value. Trayvon had every right to ask why he was being followed. He did not have a duty to retreat and IF he believed that Zimmerman might cause him harm or IF Zimmerman actually made a move to harm him, he had a right to use force to defend himself. One thing for sure, if Zimmerman had simply let Trayvon walk away, then Trayvon would not have 'decided' to turn around and confront Zimmerman in your Zimmerman-friendly scenario.

That's the end of it.

 

[Londo_Jowo]

I am no First Amendment attorney, but I find it curious that this opinion would have dismissed the case based, at least in large part, on the notion of Zimmerman being a public figure - I would certainly not consider him one for purposes of a defamation claim.

I have always felt the greatest deficiency of the case was damages, since it seems unlikely to me that NBC's editing (which was certainly irresponsible) caused Zimmerman any harm. He was already a highly controversial figure (he was, after all, an admitted killer and on trial for the murder of a minor), vilified by many, when they aired their story, and frankly I don't think the editing materially affected anyone's perception of Zimmerman in a way that caused him any damages. What probably did harm him was the false portrayal of Martin by the media as a skinny 13-year-old honor student, but that is not actionable by Zimmerman.

I am amused, if unsurprised, that people are still predicting a life of wealth and privilege for Zimmerman despite all the evidence to the contrary. The NBC case, even if it's successful, will at best earn him enough money to pay off his criminal lawyers. No publisher will give him a significant advance on a book, and if he publishes one it won't sell. If any publisher thought otherwise, the book would have emerged by now. I would be surprised if Zimmerman ever achieves becoming middle class, much less wealthy.

Thanks for your input DVC. Your first paragraph is why I suspect this ruling will be overturned by the 5th DCA on appeal and the lawsuit go forward.

As for GZ ever being rich I suspect you're right on that as well as at best if he's lucky he may be able to pay off his lawyers and be able to change his name/start a new life.

 

[Sc0rp]

Thanks for your input DVC. Your first paragraph is why I suspect this ruling will be overturned by the 5th DCA on appeal and the lawsuit go forward.

As for GZ ever being rich I suspect you're right on that as well as at best if he's lucky he may be able to pay off his lawyers and be able to change his name/start a new life.

It won't be overturned because you really, REALLY, need to read the judge's ruling. Zimmerman was already infamous by the time NBC came along and Zimmerman himself tried to engage the media and public before NBC came along. Their sound bytes were not the first introduction to the character of George Zimmerman.

It's like, you have a pile of trash, NBC comes in at the last minute and throws a candy wrapper on the pile of trash and now you want to blame NBC for the pile of trash.

 

[SpatiallyAware]

Blahdeblahblahblah. You're not worthy of a real response. That's the end of it with you.

Edit: I will respond to one point you made.

The root cause was Zimmerman deciding to leave his vehicle and run after someone that was moving away from him based on him forming a broad opinion about them and not based on them actually committing any observable offense with any material value. Trayvon had every right to ask why he was being followed. He did not have a duty to retreat and IF he believed that Zimmerman might cause him harm or IF Zimmerman actually made a move to harm him, he had a right to use force to defend himself. One thing for sure, if Zimmerman had simply let Trayvon walk away, then Trayvon would have 'decided' to turn around and confront Zimmerman in your Zimmerman-friendly scenario.

That's the end of it.

He was the neighborhood watch, doing what NW does - watching from a safe distance. He saw a thug doing what thugs do, when I grew up in the hood we called in creepin. Trayvon was looking between houses, staring into garages. He "looked like he was up to no good". Likely looking for more product to traffic back to miami along with all that stolen jewelry he got caught with.

Zimmerman did not run trayvon down. Trayvon intercepted zimmerman.


It is not illegal to watch someone. You can stare, walk behind, even ask people what they're up to. Is it rude? Sure, can be. But it doesn't justify a brutal attack.


Tell me - what exactly is this broad opinion you think zimmerman formed?

 

[WHAMPOM]

We still on this? No one worked on a High School paper or any field of journalism. This is how it works> You pick out the highlights and edit to fit the time slot. Regional News was already dragging Zimmerboy's name deep in the shit, MSNBC's snippet was hardly a tarnish.

 

[Londo_Jowo]

It won't be overturned because you really, REALLY, need to read the judge's ruling. Zimmerman was already infamous by the time NBC came along and Zimmerman himself tried to engage the media and public before NBC came along. Their sound bytes were not the first introduction to the character of George Zimmerman.

It's like, you have a pile of trash, NBC comes in at the last minute and throws a candy wrapper on the pile of trash and now you want to blame NBC for the pile of trash.

When a lawyer finds it curious for the judge to dismiss it for that reason I can imagine a 3 judge panel may also find it curious as well.

 

[Sc0rp]

He was the neighborhood watch, doing what NW does - watching from a safe distance. He saw a thug doing what thugs do, when I grew up in the hood we called in creepin. Trayvon was looking between houses, staring into garages. He "looked like he was up to no good". Likely looking for more product to traffic back to miami along with all that stolen jewelry he got caught with.

Zimmerman did not run trayvon down. Trayvon intercepted zimmerman.


It is not illegal to watch someone. You can stare, walk behind, even ask people what they're up to. Is it rude? Sure, can be. But it doesn't justify a brutal attack.


Tell me - what exactly is this broad opinion you think zimmerman formed?

NHW has specific rules against leaving your home or vehicle to follow suspicious people into dark alleys. They also have rules against patrolling while armed. They also have rules about wearing clothes that identify you as NHW and identifying yourself if you ever interact with someone. Sorry but no, the crazed mugger look and behavior is not sanctioned by the NHW.

Quote me saying that he ran Trayvon down?

My opinion of Zimmerman is based on what we know for a fact he said and what we know for a fact he did and what he admits he did. I know that, in his situation, I would not have gotten out of the truck because that would be grossly irresponsible and recklessly escalatory based on what Zimmerman himself reports seeing. I know that, in Trayvons situation, I probably WOULD want to know what Zimmermans deal was and I WOULD probably use force on him if he made a false move, like reaching behind his back instead of answering my query as he admits he did!

 

[Sc0rp]

When a lawyer finds it curious for the judge to dismiss it for that reason I can imagine a 3 judge panel may also find it curious as well.

He said that he WASN'T a a first amendment attorney. The ruling is based on the fist amendment. :|

 

[thraashman]

So, who in here believes that had the situation been reversed. An armed Zimmerman walking in the neighborhood. Trayvon driving slowly nearby following and watching him. Then Zimmerman gets uncomfortable and bolts with Trayvon jumping out of the car and chasing.

Now who here even remotely believes that Spatially would not fully believe that Zimmerman would in that situation have the full right to shoot Trayvon?

 

[SpatiallyAware]

NHW has specific rules against leaving your home or vehicle to follow suspicious people into dark alleys. They also have rules against patrolling while armed. They also have rules about wearing clothes that identify you as NHW and identifying yourself if you ever interact with someone. Sorry but no, the crazed mugger look and behavior is not sanctioned by the NHW.

Damn good thing z-man was armed and able to protect himself that night. Trayvon had already publicly stated he likes to make people bleed. He was a known street fighter in his hood. In just a short few seconds he had bashed zimmerman's head in, until z-man was able to get his pistol out and put a bullet in the thug's heart.

I don't care what "rules" z-man did or did not break. What I care about is who broke what laws, and z-man broke none.

I know it hurts your soft liberal heart, but fact is that trayvon was out looking for trouble - and he found some.

Now maybe you believe his rotten mother, who spread lies about how trayvon was such a good kid never in any trouble, but the fact is that trayvon was a trash hoodlum thug. He had been caught with thousands of dollars worth of stolen gold and diamond jewelry. He had been caught with burglary tools. He made public comments about cooking drugs. He attacked an innocent bus driver.

This was no superstar kid, like the media led you to believe.

 

[Londo_Jowo]

He said that he WASN'T a a first amendment attorney. The ruling is based on the fist amendment. :|

Yet he is an attorney.

 

[Sc0rp]

So, who in here believes that had the situation been reversed. An armed Zimmerman walking in the neighborhood. Trayvon driving slowly nearby following and watching him. Then Zimmerman gets uncomfortable and bolts with Trayvon jumping out of the car and chasing.

Now who here even remotely believes that Spatially would not fully believe that Zimmerman would in that situation have the full right to shoot Trayvon?

I think that, in that situation where someone leaves a building or vehicle to chase you, it is escalating the situation. I already stated that if someone left a vehicle and ran after me like that, I'd want to know what their deal was and if they make the wrong move, I'll probably shoot them.

 

[SpatiallyAware]

I think that, in that situation where someone leaves a building or vehicle to chase you, it is escalating the situation. I already stated that if someone left a vehicle and ran after me like that, I'd want to know what their deal was and if they make the wrong move, I'll probably shoot them.

Are you serious... You are a danger to society.

In your world it's now ok to blow away anyone jogging near you.

 

[Sc0rp]

Yet he is an attorney.

Maybe, but he said that he isn't a FIRST AMENDMENT Attorney and that's what I reiterated.

 

[Sc0rp]

Are you serious... You are a danger to society.

In your world it's now ok to blow away anyone jogging near you.

Why would I blow away the jogger exactly? Strawman much?

 

[SpatiallyAware]

So, who in here believes that had the situation been reversed. An armed Zimmerman walking in the neighborhood. Trayvon driving slowly nearby following and watching him. Then Zimmerman gets uncomfortable and bolts with Trayvon jumping out of the car and chasing.

Now who here even remotely believes that Spatially would not fully believe that Zimmerman would in that situation have the full right to shoot Trayvon?

Running - legal
Driving slowly - legal

Knocking someone down and beating them over the head - illegal and can get you shot.


I don't know why this is so difficult

 

[thraashman]

I think that, in that situation where someone leaves a building or vehicle to chase you, it is escalating the situation. I already stated that if someone left a vehicle and ran after me like that, I'd want to know what their deal was and if they make the wrong move, I'll probably shoot them.

Which is an understandable response. Unless, according to Spatially, you're black. In which case you're always in the wrong and should be shot dead.

 

[Sc0rp]

Damn good thing z-man was armed and able to protect himself that night. Trayvon had already publicly stated he likes to make people bleed. He was a known street fighter in his hood. In just a short few seconds he had bashed zimmerman's head in, until z-man was able to get his pistol out and put a bullet in the thug's heart.

I don't care what "rules" z-man did or did not break. What I care about is who broke what laws, and z-man broke none.

I know it hurts your soft liberal heart, but fact is that trayvon was out looking for trouble - and he found some.

Now maybe you believe his rotten mother, who spread lies about how trayvon was such a good kid never in any trouble, but the fact is that trayvon was a trash hoodlum thug. He had been caught with thousands of dollars worth of stolen gold and diamond jewelry. He had been caught with burglary tools. He made public comments about cooking drugs. He attacked an innocent bus driver.

This was no superstar kid, like the media led you to believe.

Don't sit there and tell me that he was doing what NHW does and then tell me that you don't care about what NHW really does.

The rest of what your said was just useless rambling in an effort to change the subject.