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Homeowner’s Association Settles Trayvon Martin Wrongful Death Case

The homeowner’s association (HOA) for the Retreat at Twin Lakes gated community in Sanford, Fla. has settled the Trayvon Martin wrongful death case in which it was a defendant.

Trayvon Martin was killed in Feb 2012 by the neighborhood watch captain George Zimmerman, who is facing a criminal trial for a second-degree murder charge.

Martin was walking towards his father’s girlfriend’s house with a hoodie over his head. Zimmerman saw him while driving in an SUV, and called the police, who told Zimmerman to stay inside the vehicle. However, Zimmerman got out and followed Martin.

What happened next is disputed, but there was a confrontation between the two of them which ended with Zimmerman shooting Trayvon Martin in the chest.

Trayvon’s parents Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin filed a wrongful death civil lawsuit in Seminole County against the HOA. This lawsuit has now been settled, but the details have not yet been made public. The settlement was filed with the 18th Judicial Circuit Court of Florida, which serves Seminole County, and the court clerk has been directed to seal the document.

The settlement amount is likely to be higher than a million dollars, because Trayvon’s parents had previously rejected a million dollar settlement offer made by the HOA.

The HOA’s insurer is Travelers Casualty and Surety Co. of America, which had also filed a lawsuit to ask the court to specify its liability, since the verdict of Zimmerman’s murder trial would be a factor determining their liability. This lawsuit was later withdrawn by the insurer.

This legal settlement between Martin’s parents clears the HOA of liability associated with the incident. It does not absolve Zimmerman’s liability, and Martin’s parents plan to file a separate civil lawsuit against Zimmerman. His criminal trial is scheduled to begin in June, and his lawyers have decided not to go with the “stand your ground” criminal defense.