A judge has dismissed a defamation and conspiracy lawsuit filed by George Zimmerman against the parents of Trayvon Martin.
Zimmerman accused Martin’s parents, Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin, and their book publishers HarperCollins, of painting him as a racist in his lawsuit. Tallahassee judge John Cooper dismissed the lawsuit Monday in which Zimmerman was seeking $100 million in damages.
“There can be no claim for conspiracy to defraud if there is no adequately stated claim for fraud,” the order read, according to Reuters.
Zimmerman fatally shot Trayvon Martin in February 2012 in Sanford while patrolling his housing development as part of a neighborhood watch program. Zimmerman spotted Martin walking home in a hooded sweatshirt after buying a can of Arizona tea and a bag of Skittles at a local convenience store. After the killing, Zimmerman claimed he shot the teen in self-defense under Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” law.
In Zimmerman’s lawsuit, attorney Ben Crump, who had represented the family, was also named. In Crump’s book, “Open Season: Legalized Genocide of Colored People,” Zimmerman alleges false, misleading and slanderous statements were made about his character.
“I have every confidence that this unfounded and reckless lawsuit will be revealed for what it is — another failed attempt to defend the indefensible and a shameless attempt to profit off the lives and grief of others,” Crump said in a statement in December 2019 after the lawsuit was filed.
“This plaintiff continues to display a callous disregard for everyone but himself, revictimizing individuals whose lives were shattered by his own misguided actions,” Crump continued. “He would have us believe that he is the innocent victim of a deep conspiracy, despite the complete lack of any credible evidence to support his outlandish claims.”
