by Laura Savage
The parents of Florida teenager Trayvon Martin, who was shot and killed by neighborhood watchman George Zimmerman, have reached a settlement with the homeowners association (HOA) in their wrongful death case against the Sanford subdivision, Retreat at Twin Lakes, where he died.
According to the Orlando Sentinel and news station Fox 35, Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin settled out of court with the HOA for a sum assumed to be more than $1 million. The official settlement paperwork that was filed in Seminole County, Fla., by the HOA’s attorney, Robert R. Slaten Jr., blacked out the final amount.
In the settlement, the HOA stated that it was not admitting wrongdoing or liability in Martin’s death. The HOA most likely wants to avoid any further legal proceedings.
Wrongful death claims can hold any blameworthy party accountable. The neighborhood watch association’s liability was questioned because Zimmerman was acting as a representative of the HOA when he initially approached and then shot and killed Trayvon Martin.
The Chicago Tribune is reporting, “Under the terms of the settlement, Trayvon’s parents, Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin, and his estate agreed to set aside their wrongful-death claim and claims for pain and suffering, loss of earnings and expenses.”
The settlement with Retreat at Twin Lakes does not clear Zimmerman of possible future claims.
Fulton and Martin’s attorney, Benjamin Crump, stated he planned to file against Zimmerman in the future.
Laura Savage is a graduating senior in journalism at San Francisco State University and is interning with the SF Bay View this semester. She can be reached at lsavage26@gmail.com.
