'Disgraceful Sham': George Zimmerman Sues Parents of Trayvon Martin, Others for $100 Million

Trayvon Martin (left) was killed by George Zimmerman (right) in 2012. Zimmerman is suing Martin's family. (Photograph: composite/Common Dreams)

'Disgraceful Sham': George Zimmerman Sues Parents of Trayvon Martin, Others for $100 Million

"Imagine killing an unarmed child and then suing his parents."

George Zimmerman, the former Florida neighborhood watch volunteer who shot and killed unarmed teenager Trayvon Martin in 2012, is suing the victim's family, prosecutors, and the media for $100 million in damages.

Zimmerman was acquitted of murdering Martin in 2013.

"Imagine killing an unarmed child and then suing his parents," tweeted Center for Policing Equity president Phillip Atiba Goff.

The lawsuit, which Zimmerman's lawyer Larry Klayman--a right-wing legal advocate--filed in Polk County Circuit Court in Florida Wednesday names Martin's mother, Sybrina Fulton, as the lead defendant. Fulton is running for Congress in Florida's District 1.

According to the Miami Herald:

The suit in Polk County Circuit Court cites information in a documentary about the case that accuses the Martin family of engineering false testimony, and the director has scheduled a press conference this week in Coral Gables to coincide with a film screening there. The suit seeks $100 million in civil damages, alleging defamation, abuse of civil process and conspiracy. A copy of the suit was distributed to media Wednesday by the movies' director, Joe Gilbert. The case does not yet appear on the online docket of the Polk court system.

Zimmerman, Klayman, and Gilbert will host a press conference Thursday afternoon at the Coral Gables Art Cinema.

Documentary filmmaker Billy Corben said in a tweet he was outraged at the cinema's involvement in what he called a "disgraceful sham."

New York State Assembly member Yuh-Line Niou couldn't believe what she was reading.

"This killer wants to do what?!" said Niou.

Join Us: News for people demanding a better world


Common Dreams is powered by optimists who believe in the power of informed and engaged citizens to ignite and enact change to make the world a better place.

We're hundreds of thousands strong, but every single supporter makes the difference.

Your contribution supports this bold media model—free, independent, and dedicated to reporting the facts every day. Stand with us in the fight for economic equality, social justice, human rights, and a more sustainable future. As a people-powered nonprofit news outlet, we cover the issues the corporate media never will. Join with us today!

Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.