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This isn't really applicable here. It is true that news stations have the right to lie. I believe it was the Inquirer that actually used this defense at first and the attorney said "everyone knows we just make stuff up." If Fox news reported that there was an alien race living on the moon and made some neat CIG graphics and convinced people that it was true, it would be legal. What the news can't do is defame someone. So if they ran a story saying that I was a racist neonazi then I could absolutely sue them and win.
After Zim settles out of court for $30 million from NBC, I hope he goes on TV and burns his democrat registration card...Then, he should take the 30 mil, go to Peru and live like a Baron....That would be cool!
Well, he can try. But the lawyers for the news media are far, far better than Bernie and will (or could) stretch the proceedings out sooo long that Zimmerman would starve to death. It'd also cost multiples of the $300k that his supporters contributed. Do you think that they'd be willing to cough up say 10 times what they did in the past?
His best bet is to take something, move on.
He absolutely has the upper hand right now. His lawyers aren't going to be charging by the hour.
After Zim settles out of court for $30 million from NBC, I hope he goes on TV and burns his democrat registration card...Then, he should take the 30 mil, go to Peru and live like a Baron....That would be cool!
Won't happen. They'll pay a bit. Otherwise, the legal proceedings will go on for years.
This isn't really applicable here. It is true that news stations have the right to lie. I believe it was the Inquirer that actually used this defense at first and the attorney said "everyone knows we just make stuff up." If Fox news reported that there was an alien race living on the moon and made some neat CIG graphics and convinced people that it was true, it would be legal. What the news can't do is defame someone. So if they ran a story saying that I was a racist neonazi then I could absolutely sue them and win.
And people aren't defamed in the Enquirer? And Fox News doesn't defame Obama on a daily basis?
Nope, the best Zimmy could hope for is a spot on Fox News as a commentator speaking out for the right to use excessive force during delusional , paranoid episodes.
Because it's not true since it doesn't fit the circumstances.
Zimmerman can absolutely win suit for defamation.
If you are going to cite case law, pick something that actually matches the facts of the case?
TM's parents can also sue due to this not being a SYG case.
The Federal civil rights thing is just CYA grandstanding, that won't go anywhere either given the FBI investigation found no racial bias and as people have noted Zimmerman isn't a public servant.
My prediction is that Zimmerman wins suits against some of the news media.....and the money eventually winds up with TM's family.
This isn't really applicable here. It is true that news stations have the right to lie. I believe it was the Inquirer that actually used this defense at first and the attorney said "everyone knows we just make stuff up." If Fox news reported that there was an alien race living on the moon and made some neat CIG graphics and convinced people that it was true, it would be legal. What the news can't do is defame someone. So if they ran a story saying that I was a racist neonazi then I could absolutely sue them and win.
The attorneys for Fox, owned by media baron Rupert Murdoch, argued the First Amendment gives broadcasters the right to lie or deliberately distort news reports on the public airwaves.
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