Part of George Zimmerman defamation lawsuit dismissed

A Florida judge has dismissed part of a lawsuit against NBC Universal that claims the television network defamed George Zimmerman’s reputation.

Thursday’s decision puts the entire lawsuit in jeopardy.

Seminole County Circuit Judge Debra Nelson ruled that Zimmerman’s attorney waited too long under Florida statute to ask NBC to retract the information from the March 19, 2012 broadcast.

Lawyers claimed in a letter sent in December that year that NBC edited Zimmerman’s 911 call to make it sound like the former neighbourhood watch volunteer was a racist.

NBC apologised in April 2012 and fired a reporter and a producer.

Three other NBC broadcasts are still in question.

The case had been postponed pending the conclusion of Zimmerman’s murder trial in July 2013. He was acquitted of second-degree murder in the death of Miami teenager Trayvon Martin.