The Martin family could bring a wrongful death case against Retreat at Twin Lakes Homeowners' Association, Inc, the homeowners association for the central Florida gated community where the killing took place, legal experts said.
Such a lawsuit would likely allege that the association was negligent in overseeing Zimmerman's activities, and could seek a judgment in the seven-figure range, said Philip Gerson, a Miami trial lawyer and founder of the law firm Gerson & Schwartz.
The homeowners association acknowledged Zimmerman and the neighborhood crime watch in a February newsletter, according to the Associated Press. The newsletter encouraged residents to contact Zimmerman in case of an incident, it said.
"If you've been the victim of a crime within the community, after calling the police, please contact our captain, George Zimmerman ... so we can be aware and help address the issue with other residents," the newsletter said.
That relationship is likely to come into play, said Donna DiMaggio Berger, a founding partner at the law firm Katzman Garfinkel & Berger, which represents community associations in Florida.
"It's not as if the association can say we had no idea ... that Zimmerman held himself out as a neighborhood watch captain," she said.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/03/28/us-usa-florida-shooting-idUSBRE82R1K620120328
