The Firing Line Forums - View Single Post - Zimmermann verdict in. Case for civil suits?

MLeake · July 13, 2013, 11:15 PM

Tom Servo, while the standard of proof is lower for a civil suit, I would think the not guilty verdict, plus the hoard of evidence that would most likely be allowed in the civil suit that was not allowed in the trial (Trayvon's behavioral history, use of drugs, problems at school, etc) would make a civil suit an ultimate loser.

OTOH, I have to wonder if there would not be a big money case to be made against msnbc for its character assassinating re-edit of the 911 call.

Recall, "He looks guilty.... he looks black,"?

Leaving out all the queries from the dispatcher, and responses from Zimmerman that occurred in between those two statements completely changed the tone of what was reported. msnbc claimed they were going for brevity, and not a change of substance, but we all know that was crap.

I suspect that a jury might feel the same way.

July 13, 2013, 11:15 PM	#24
MLeake Senior Member Join Date: November 15, 2007 Location: Outside KC, MO Posts: 10,128	Tom Servo, while the standard of proof is lower for a civil suit, I would think the not guilty verdict, plus the hoard of evidence that would most likely be allowed in the civil suit that was not allowed in the trial (Trayvon's behavioral history, use of drugs, problems at school, etc) would make a civil suit an ultimate loser. OTOH, I have to wonder if there would not be a big money case to be made against msnbc for its character assassinating re-edit of the 911 call. Recall, "He looks guilty.... he looks black,"? Leaving out all the queries from the dispatcher, and responses from Zimmerman that occurred in between those two statements completely changed the tone of what was reported. msnbc claimed they were going for brevity, and not a change of substance, but we all know that was crap. I suspect that a jury might feel the same way.