Homeowner Association Could Be Sued In Trayvon Martin Case

[Purveyor]

(04-09) 00:06 PDT Sanford, Fla. (AP) --

If Trayvon Martin's family sues over his death, they might not target George Zimmerman but instead the homeowners association of the neighborhood where the shooting happened and Zimmerman lived.

That's because if Zimmerman's claim that he shot the unarmed 17-year-old in self-defense is upheld by prosecutors, a judge or a jury, Florida's so-called stand your ground law would protect him from a lawsuit. But his clearance or acquittal wouldn't stop Martin's parents from suing The Retreat at Twin Lakes homeowners association — and its insurance policies and assets would make it a much more lucrative target than Zimmerman, even if he is eventually convicted of a crime.

Plus, lawyers say, Exhibit A would be a newsletter sent by the association to residents in February, the same month as the shooting. It said Zimmerman was the go-to person for residents who had been the victims of a crime.

Under the heading "Neighborhood Watch," the newsletter's message recommended that residents first call police and then "please contact our Captain, George Zimmerman ... so he can be aware and help address the issue with other residents."

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2012/04/08/national/a235945D24.DTL#ixzz1rZ5U5v28

[elleng]

1. Swell, 'our captain.'

[safeinOhio]

2. Looks like the Martin family

may own a large piece of real estate and folks will be looking for a new place to live.

[southernyankeebelle]

3. That was what I thought.

[cr8tvlde]

4. Trust me, they lawyered up the next day

and any Board Members, oh my, if they don't have their own, personal insurance...they may be individually liable. Another reason why the police, knowing this full well, don't want any arrests or problems on record.

I found this out years ago (California) when asked to be on the Board of a nonprofit. I learned that because there are few financial resources, there had been cases where Board members had been individually sued...and cases won.

I'm surprised it took this so long to come out. Of course, everything about this case takes a long time and it's going to likely go down as some kind of a landmark in race relations...unfortunately, because the provable racial aspect of it remains vague.

Another guess is that anyone who is or intends to be selling and hasn't closed escrow, will likely find themselves in tougher negotiations and the values impacted.

[douglas9]

5. Insurer Says It Should Not Have to Pay for Trayvon Martin's Death

ORLANDO (CN) - Traveler's Insurance sued Trayvon Martin's mother and The Retreat at Twin Lakes Homeowners' Association, where her son was killed, claiming it has no responsibility to defend the HOA or cover the teenager's death.
Travelers Casualty and Surety Company of America sued The Retreat at Twin Lakes Homeowners' Association and Sybrina Fulton, as representative of her son's estate, in Federal Court.
The Retreat at Twin Lakes' Neighborhood Watch captain George Zimmerman shot Trayvon Martin to death on Feb. 26.
The shooting set off a national furor, as police initially let Martin's killer, George Zimmerman, go free after questioning him. Martin was black; Zimmerman is not.
Travelers claims that on March 30, it issued the HOA a "claims-made, nonprofit management and organization liability insurance policy.
Fulton then sought monetary damages against the HOA's policy with Travelers for her son's death.

http://www.courthousenews.com/2012/08/06/49017.htm