re: George Zimmerman sues Warren, Buttigieg for $265M for Defamation

Any analysis must start with the question “What did they say?”

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Warren: "My heart goes out to [Martin's mother] @SybrinaFulton and Trayvon's family and friends. He should still be with us today. We need to end gun violence and racism. And we need to build a world where all of our children-especially young Black boys-can grow up safe and free."

Buttigieg: "Trayvon Martin would have been 25 today. How many 25th birthdays have been stolen from us by white supremacy, gun violence, prejudice, and fear?"

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Neither even mentioned Zimmerman. They used an historical event as an opportunity to emphasize a political position.

In general, the law defines defamation as a false and unprivileged statement of fact that is harmful to someone's reputation, and published "with fault," meaning as a result of negligence or malice. Statements of opinion are generally not cognizable as defamation.

In Florida, defamation is a false statement of fact, communicated to a third party, which is meant to hurt the plaintiff's reputation or economic well-being. As far as I can tell, he has pleaded that they acted in political self-interest, NOT with a specific desire to harm a guy that they did not even mention.

Countdown to some (half)wit claiming that an argument against frivolous lawsuits constitutes is “liberal” and a “defense” of Warren and/or Buttigieg. 3...2...1.....



Anyone arguing in favor of this lawsuit is basically saying “I favor allowing lawsuits in which the plaintiff has failed to even stay at a legally-cognizable claim, so long as I do not personally like the defendant.”

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Far too many in my profession are far too willing to file a frivolous suit for either publicity or a nuisance-value settlement.

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I agree -

BUT - there needs to be a way to punish known liars from bringing up thoroughly debunked past assertions to gain political benefit - especially when it necessarily brings a proven innocent person back into the public discussion where he has already undergone character defamation, physical threats, financial ruin, and employment opportunities.

/\ the above /\ is a routine DEMOCRAT campaign tactic - that they bring out anytime they need the black community to dance for them.

As a result, we have totally innocent people living lives of lesser opportunity or having to live in 'witness protection' -- e..g. the police officer in the "hands up - don't shoot' hoax. < NOBODY but the innocent people involved were punished in any way - and yet the DEMs STILL using the BLM movement it spawned as a political weapon.

I'd like those assertions by DEMs be punished with the same penalties suffered by anyone who yells the "n-word" << (edit - apparently it only is a problem if some conservative does it - DEMs are immune from punishment for violating their own arbitrary rules of social justice.)

And to start with prominent DEMOCRAT presidential nominees as the first ones to meet REAL justice would be a great thing to observe.

My point is that he’s a real outcast, and he has no option other than to look out for #1 for the rest of his life. Why wouldn’t he seek money where money might be available?

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If warren and Bootyjudge had a son....

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Neither even mentioned Zimmerman. They used an historical event as an opportunity to emphasize a political position.

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Yes they mention Trayvon’s death the result of white supremacy and racism in complete contradiction to reality.

Who killed Trayvon?

This is weak, even for you

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Dude needs to just fade away

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i hate our lawsuit society, but he's got a point.

two presidential candidates calling out a guy who has already been aquitted as a white supremacist/racist can ruin your life, if it's not ruined already.

now, $265M is a little much.

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Any analysis must start with the question “What did they say?”

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Warren, “He should still be with us today. We need to end gun violence and racism.“
The INFERENCE is that Martin was killed by gun violence and racism. He WAS killed by Zimmerman. Therefore a reasonable person could conclude that Zimmerman is gun violence and racism.

There is a case to be made here. Win, lose, or settle, and for how much is yet to be determined. Warren exposed herself to litigation.

Buttigieg, "Trayvon Martin would have been 25 today. How many 25th birthdays have been stolen from us by white supremacy, gun violence, prejudice, and fear?"
Once again a reasonable person could conclude that Buttigieg is associating Zimmerman with white supremacy, gun violence, prejudice, and fear.

Again there is a case here.

Warren, Buttigieg, Martin, and Zimmerman are all arseholes.

Warren and Buttigieg are voluntarily public politicians trying to ride the corpse of a dead black child for political gain without regard to a man who was found innocent. Did they skirt defamation of Zimmerman with their word selection? We’ll find out.

Martin was a dumb kid with racist tendencies and a willingness to escalate an observation situation, through a verbal and physical engagement, to a deadly assault on Zimmerman.

Zimmerman was and is a private citizen engaged in legal activities trying to protect himself, his neighbors, and his reputation. Was he defamed by two powerful politicians in front of millions? We’ll find out.

I find it hard to believe that most attorneys would pass on this potentially lucrative lawsuit.

Edit: without hearing any arguments, and based solely on the facts presented in this thread, as a juror I’d probably vote guilty and award one dollar in damages. But I’m an arsehole too.

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myasshat

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Would you? If your name was continually being drug through the mud for political purposes after you were lawfully acquitted of any wrongdoing?