O'Mara: George Zimmerman will ask state to cover $200K-$300K of his legal bills

[Baitball Blogger]

***GROAN***

George Zimmerman, the Neighborhood Watch volunteer who killed Trayvon Martin, plans to ask the state of Florida to cover $200,000 to $300,000 of his legal expenses, his attorney told the Orlando Sentinel Monday evening.

Because Zimmerman was acquitted, state law requires Florida to pay all his legal costs, minus the biggest one: the fee that goes to his lawyers.

That includes the cost of expert witnesses, travel, depositions, photocopies, even that animated 3-D video that defense attorneys showed jurors during closing argument that depicts Trayvon punching Zimmerman.

Defense attorney Mark O'Mara said Monday that he would soon prepare a motion, asking Circuit Judge Debra S. Nelson to authorize the payments.

That motion, he said, "is in the works."

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/trayvon-martin/os-george-zimmerman-we-pay-his-bills-20130826,0,7750164.story

[branford]

1. FYI, there's a large discussion on this matter in the Late Breaking News Forum

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014576677

[Baitball Blogger]

2. Thanks appreciate it.

[MoonRiver]

3. I hope the scum jurors who acquitted him will be happy paying their fair share.

Soooo happy NOT to live in FloriDUH.

[Boom Sound 416]

17. You mean the 5 mothers

[KamaAina]

22. You got half of it

[Boom Sound 416]

26. Clever

[etherealtruth]

81. Why is their parenthood pertinent?

[Boom Sound 416]

82. It isn't really, just an observation

That by a large group of shall we day pro-Trayvon folks the narrative was: they are six women, five of whom are mothers. (I can't count how many times I heard that sentence in the sphere.

Now they are idiots, scum, racist or just a sample of the whole effed up community.

That's all

[etherealtruth]

83. Mothers are just as capable of racism and stupidity as anyone else

Not dissing, mother's I am one and I love mine

[Boom Sound 416]

85. Thanks. I know that mothers are human

You do see my point, yes?

[Xyzse]

4. I was very unhappy to hear about this

However, perhaps this would be an impetus for FL to change their laws.

I mean, who else would have to pay that other than the Tax Payers in FL.
All I could say is, any time one of those punks shoot somebody they get sued like crazy.

If FL had to pay more than 4 of these a year for about that much, well heck... Who knows?

[Blue_Tires]

14. It appears that there are quite a few FL laws that could use some serious review

[Xyzse]

24. Agreed

[Boom Sound 416]

5. The law is designed to keep the state

From bringing weak charges against people and bankrupting them for having to prove their innocence.

On the whole it's a good law

[MoonRiver]

6. It's a good law if you're a trigger happy gun nut with an itch to feel the thrill of the kill.

That law, plus Stand Your Ground, make it way too easy to get away with murder.

[Boom Sound 416]

7. And!

It's a good law if you're forced to prove your innoncence because some pencil pusher in the state Capitol is trying to run for office saying he is tough on crime.

Would you like to go broke defending yourself when you know you're innocent.

Zimmerman is irrelevant

[MoonRiver]

8. Happens all the time.

Besides, Zimmerman was guilty as sin, imo. He is NOT irrelevant. He is a monstrous example of the sick state of Florida "justice."

[Boom Sound 416]

9. It happens

Which is why the law exists


Zimmerman is irrlevent unless you don't believe in equality under the law.

[Baitball Blogger]

10. A member of a minority group would not have skated through police processing

without a drug test.

This is ALL about equality under the law,

[branford]

12. Respectfully, what would have been the basis for probable cause

for a warrant permitting a drug or alcohol test?

He involvement in a shooting would not, by itself, be considered probable cause. Real life is not the movies or television. I heard no testimony that there was alcohol on Zimmerman's breadth, or he was acting erratically or otherwise displaying symptoms of intoxication. He also was responsive and fully cooperated with the police.

More importantly, in light of the evidence adduced at trial, do you believe that it would have altered the verdict?

[Baitball Blogger]

18. I think we have come to the crux of the issue.

Zimmerman KILLED a human being. Get it? That's what everyone is all worked up about.

If a black man had killed a white man, he would have received a drug test. That's a given.

There is no point in discussing this with you further, because you either "get it" or you are a Zimmerman apologist.

[branford]

33. Do you really believe that a black man would not have been subject to warrant?

If so, do you have any evidence or statistics to support your supposition other than righteous indignation?

Also, do you also really believe that anyone who doesn't agree with your version or beliefs about the entire Zimmerman sage is nothing more than a "Zimmerman apologist." Is every one of the vast multitude of legal, social, cultural and political issues, from gun rights and prosecutor discretion to self-defense laws and the right against self-incrimination, a simple binary proposition?

If so, you're right, there sadly is no point in discussing this matter further with you. It's a pity.

[brush]

70. zimmerman was on adderol

Last edited Tue Aug 27, 2013, 04:39 PM - Edit history (1)

known for causing aggression.

[branford]

72. That really doesn't answer the relevant question.

If he was on prescription medication, it would be discoverable during the discovery phase of the proceedings, and if otherwise admissible and not unduly prejudicial, could be introduced by the State (or the defense if they believed it helpful) at trial. It would be a similar standard to that used to determine the admissibility of the THC in Travon's system.

However, in order to have probable cause for a drug test on the evening of the shooting, the police would have needed to offer a sworn affidavit explaining why they suspected Zimmerman of suspicious drug use on that particular evening. As I previously stated, I do not recall any allegations that there was alcohol on Zimmerman's breadth, or he was acting erratically or otherwise displaying symptoms of intoxication. He also was fully responsive and cooperated with the police.

[X_Digger]

74. Unfortunately, you'll find a lot of ignorance about probable cause on DU..

.. and a lot of legal and forensic "knowledge" based on Law & Order, CSI: Somewhere, and similar.

[Paladin]

75. Discover this: the word is "breath" not "breadth" (nt)

[Boom Sound 416]

13. And of what group is Zimmerman

[Baitball Blogger]

19. I live in the county. The fact that his father was a judge who was able to talk directly to

Last edited Sun Sep 1, 2013, 11:10 AM - Edit history (1)

Norm Wolfinger puts this case over in the camp that usually get preferential treatment in these cases.

How long did it take for Norm Wolfinger to talk to Trayvon's father, I wonder?

[Boom Sound 416]

25. It seems to really burn people up that Zim is not white

[Baitball Blogger]

32. Not necessarily.

I'm latina. I grew up in Latin America. Racism could manifest itself through the class system. If you had money and status, it was possible to find combinations of color and prejudice that would make most Americans knit their brows.

With the Zimmerman trial, there are old friends on facebook who have revealed this cross-over, which I never noticed growing up.

Bottomline, Zimmerman had resources through his father, that would not have been available to someone who was of full ethnic blood and had no special connections.

[Boom Sound 416]

45. To your last point

So if is father was not white he wouldn't have been a magistrate? Kinda thin.

I may have missed this, but what strings did Zim's father pull in Florida. He couldn't even get jr a cop job in Virginia where daddy was a justice.

As to your first point. Yes. I see you what you're saying. I think most would agree.

[Baitball Blogger]

48. He spoke directly to Norm Wolfinger.

I tried for ten years to get him to look into a conspiracy and fraud case that occurred in my city and he blew me off. Networks are everything in this county.

What you should be asking is, how much of this would have been buried if Al Sharpton hadn't given it national attention? The answer: All of it.

[Boom Sound 416]

50. Except that

6 jurors and a whole bus load of legal folk agreed with Norm.

[Baitball Blogger]

52. Yes. You got exactly the kind of result one can expect from Seminole County, Florida

when someone stalks and kills a member of a minority group.

Finally, we agree on something.

[Boom Sound 416]

53. And what group was Zim

In fact based on your reasoning. Florida tax payers should not flip the bill, but perhaps sharpton should.

[Baitball Blogger]

56. Sounds like you're at the stage where you're grasping at straws,

trying to frame my opinion in a way that fits your agenda.

I stated my opinion. This is a good ole boy county. In my city they routinely ignore critical tenets of the Fourteenth Amendment in order to buy loyalties to push their agenda. So, if they are accustom to being judge, jury and executioners when it comes to equal protection and due process of law, why would anyone expect anything in our court system to meet up to national standards?

[Boom Sound 416]

59. National Standards! Ha!

Where are they, Americaville?

When did the other 49 states stop having race inequality and straight up race crimes

Furthermore, you said, "when someone stalks and kills a member of a minority group"

I asked you of what group is Zim's membership. I left the goal posts exactly where you pushed them.

Please don't tell me I'm grasping at straws

And what's my agenda?

[Baitball Blogger]

62. I've already answered all your questions.

You just do not want to accept the fact that there are two Americas. The laws do not apply equally to everyone, and those of us who are continually discriminated against are going to continue to point that out to you.

[Boom Sound 416]

64. Thanks for calling me a racist on the Internet

I know as well as anyone there are two America's.


What's hypocritical is the two sets of legal standards you are arguing FOR.

[Boom Sound 416]

97. I said

"I may have missed this, but what strings did Zim's father pull in Florida. He couldn't even get jr a cop job in Virginia where daddy was a justice."

---
I think missed something with your response.

[GreenStormCloud]

99. Sorry. I missread your post.` I will delete my post. N/T

[Boom Sound 416]

100. ...

[Tommy_Carcetti]

78. He's white hispanic.

It's a recognized census classification.

The frickin' Pope is a white Hispanic, and he's lilly white.

It's the right who is obsessing that Zimmerman was Hispanic and supposedly not white, and apparently to them that means he was incapable of racially profiling a black teenager.

[Boom Sound 416]

79. You really believe that?

Fine

[Tommy_Carcetti]

98. Yes.

And I'm glad I have your approval on it.

[Mr_Teg]

27. I thought his father was a magistrate a.k.a. Justice of the Peace in Virginia...

Why would he have pull in Florida?

[Baitball Blogger]

35. Are you kidding me?

In Florida people pull rank. Literally. It is not uncommon to find retired military officers around here who expect you to take them at their word. If you question them they will look at you like you just walked out of a 2 star mobile home park.

[Mr_Teg]

43. That's my point...

What rank is there to pull?

[Baitball Blogger]

44. You obviously don't live here.

This is a retirement mecca combined with a good ole boy culture. There's an artificial merit system that you will not see unless you've lived here a while. The fact that his dad was a retired magistrate would have given him access into these circles. That access benefited Zimmerman. It's an option that most minorities do not have.

[Mr_Teg]

55. Anecdotal "evidence" or not...

It still seems like quite a reach without some proof...

[Baitball Blogger]

57. I have done my homework.

It's observations based on reams and reams of public records.

[Boom Sound 416]

65. I lived there for 20 years

And you're telling me that some flimsy magistrate from where-in-the-fuck, Virginia can waltz into the SA's and office and what? Show him the "white" badge and the SA will say case closed, nothing to see here.

Just like that.

[Baitball Blogger]

66. I'm saying that you're underestimating how easy it is to over-grandize your position and titles

in this county.

[Boom Sound 416]

67. That's fine. And I know all about the

North Florida good ole boy network. Believe you me.

But membership is not solely based on race. And if daddy had any real pull it would have never gone to trial. Tallahassee and Jacksonville are not exactly bastions of progressive thinking and it's from those cities came the charges and special prosecutor. Seminole and broward are far, far more liberal than Leon and Duval

[Baitball Blogger]

69. You're not listening to anything I'm saying.

This is Central Florida, not North Florida. There is a good ole boy network here. They maintain power by donating very graciously and strategically to campaigns for candidates who are running for governor.

The Zimmerman case went to court because Al Sharpton's presence put it on the national agenda. Otherwise, it would never have gone to trial.

Seminole County is not Liberal. Liberals are ostracized because we actually know how to read legal documents.

[Boom Sound 416]

71. Omg

Are You really going to tell me about the subtleties of "the good ole boy network" between jax and greater Orlando or greater Daytona.



Spirited discussion. Gotta take a break

[GreenStormCloud]

94. Z's father was NEVER a judge.

That is a DU myth that refuses to die. Some years ago Virginia revised their Justice of the Peace system and called the new official who did the same duties a "Magistrate. Z's father was a Magistrate in Virginia for a few year. That is the same as being a Justice of the Peace in other states. A Virginia "Justice of the Peace" (Magistrate) is going to have ZERO influence in Florida.

[MoonRiver]

37. Many guilty people are found innocent, especially in FloriDUH.

Why should taxpayers help criminals get off Scott free?

[Boom Sound 416]

46. That's not what the law says

And who's the legal criminal?

[MoonRiver]

49. What's a "legal criminal?"

Edit: Zim was a guilty criminal who wasn't convicted. Is that what you are referring to?

[Boom Sound 416]

51. Short answer, yes

What's guilty criminal who's not convicted, rhetorically speaking.

[Paladin]

29. "Zimmerman is irrelevant"

Yeah, in your wildest wishful thinking fantasies he is......

[Boom Sound 416]

36. Would you explain why he is relevant

And not because you think he's guilty

[Paladin]

39. You don't get to impose that sort of restriction on the answers you demand. (nt)

[Boom Sound 416]

47. And you can back up your responses

Or not.

[bullwinkle428]

11. Wait, it seemed like O'Mara was happily doing this pro bono in

the beginning, thrilled with all of the publicity he was getting!

I guess he's figuring out the old chestnut about "no such thing as 'bad' publicity" ain't always all it's cracked up to be!

[branford]

15. The law only covers expenses, not legal fees.

In any event, why shouldn't Zimmerman or his counsel seek reimbursement of their expenses?

If it was you, or your attorney, wouldn't you avail yourself of the law?

[Boom Sound 416]

16. Did he claim was working for free

Maybe I missed that

[bullwinkle428]

61. I guess I missed the part where Zimmerman claimed he would pay O'Mara

using the money tree growing in his backyard.

C'MON, SON!! He knew damn well that Big Z didn't have two quarters to rub together!

[Boom Sound 416]

63. He also knew

There would be a legal defense fund and it was probably Omara's idea to sue NBC for Defamation...Son

[UTUSN]

20. This and touring the gun manufacturing plant are in a list of: f-u(s). n/t

[KurtNYC]

21. I thought Zimmerman took donations for his legal defense?

He did. Don't want to link it but it is out there. A couple of them.

If Zimmerman didn't pay his own fees then he has no standing to recover them (?). It is a double dip.

[Blue_Tires]

23. You'd think so...But Florida stopped making sense to me years ago...

They may as well put Zimmerman in the governor's mansion...He's a perfect example of how fucked up things are...

[branford]

28. It would not be a double dip.

First, the law only covers legal expenses (copying, transcripts, experts, etc.), not his attorneys' fees.

More importantly, Zimmerman does not get to profit from the money. Either his lawyers will get paid for their expenses directly, or if Zimmerman has actually paid for the expenses, he will simple be reimbursed.

Lastly, it is my understanding that Zimmerman's defense fund will be used to pay his attorneys' fees. I would imagine that the amount of the attorneys' fees far outstrip the monies collected by the fund. If that is not the case, I do not know what would happen to any excess money in the fund.

[whoiswithme]

30. I don't think he raised near enough to pay his whole bill.

The article I read this morning said his defense attorney spend 40 hours/week for 16 months working on his case at $400/hr. His assistant billed the same at $350/hr. That's $2m right there and the state won't pay for legal fees, just expert witnesses and recording costs, etc.

[whoiswithme]

31. Casey Anthony did the same thing.

[MoonRiver]

38. And that makes it ok?

[Jenoch]

60. It's the law.

[MoonRiver]

73. Yeah, well, some laws are bad.

[Jenoch]

77. If you were accused of

a crime and won acquittal at trial, would you not wish to avail yourself of this particular law?

[Boom Sound 416]

80. Funny

No one answered that question in two separate threads

[MoonRiver]

86. Let me answer that question with two responses.

First, if I lived in a state stupid enough to offer that taxpayer ripoff, of course I would.

Second, if I had the option to either live in a state which did not have that option, which I do, or in one that is idiotic enough to have it, I would choose the former. I guess as a law abiding citizen I'm willing to take my chances and not be responsible for others' legal expenses.

[Jenoch]

88. You seem to be assuming everyone who goes to trial is guilty as charged and

should lose everything they own defending themselves even if they did not commit the crime.

[MoonRiver]

90. It is NOT the taxpayers' responsibility to refund everybody accused and acquitted!

If they were wrongfully accused let them sue the prosecutors.

[X_Digger]

91. You can't sue a prosecutor for doing their job absent malice

The state (and its employees) have qualified immunity while doing their job.

[Throd]

92. So the wrongfully accused (or acquitted) lose more time and money?

[MoonRiver]

93. Yes. Sometimes life sucks.

[Throd]

103. What if it were you?

Take Zimmerman out of the equation.

You would be OK with having to spend more time and money to sue the system in the hopes of recouping the money you spent defending yourself from charges in which you were finally acquitted?

[MoonRiver]

104. I would deal with it. Nobody wants to pay out large sums of money, but it happens sometimes.

I'm a firm believer in housing, food and health care for all. But I draw the line at doling out money for legal fees.

[Jenoch]

102. Apparently it is in Florida.

[Boom Sound 416]

89. How does that answer the question

In fact after reading that I think I just got a little dumber

'If I did something I already do then I would do it'

[Abq_Sarah]

101. It's not a taxpayer ripoff

If the state can't prove their case, why should the defendant be punished with insane legal bills? Maybe the state should consider the cases it brings to trial and the strength of the evidence a little more closely.

[whoiswithme]

76. Of course not.....

but in that case NOBODY thought she was innocent and they still paid.

[Bay Boy]

34. Nobody should be surprised by this...

...still upset with Zimmerman I get it, but this is to be expected.

[HereSince1628]

40. If anything CNN should help pay, they made money off their coverage...

[Blue_Tires]

41. I'd have the NRA pay the lion's share, personally...

[HereSince1628]

42. Yes, it'd probably also be consistent with their Mission Statement.

[Boom Sound 416]

54. NBC will be paying the attorneys

[NCTraveler]

58. Seems like a good law.

Looks like Florida law gets it right on this one.

[uponit7771]

68. I agree, the state shouldn't be able to drive people to bankruptcy

[Logical]

84. I agree. Great law. All states should have it. I think they should pay fair lawyer fees also. n-t

[tammywammy]

96. I agree as well. n/t

[spanone]

87. rubbing salt in the wound of his victim

[treestar]

105. How did it add up to that much?

And it apparently does not include attorney's fees. Can't recover those. So that just means costs. Like copying and postage. Expert witnesses charge a lot, but how many did he have and what did they charge? Outlandish.