Elderly couple sue Spike Lee over Zimmerman tweet, cite 'mob mentality'

by Joe Newby

Elaine and David McClain, the elderly Florida couple whose address was retweeted by director Spike Lee in March 2012, have sued the director, the Orlando Sentinel reported Friday.

Lee retweeted what he thought was the home address of George Zimmerman, the neighborhood watch volunteer who was found not guilty in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin.

As a result, the couple was forced to flee their home after being barraged with hate mail and threats.

Lee issued an apology and settled the issue a day or two later, but the false address began making the rounds on Twitter again in July 2013.

According to the lawsuit, other people continue to tweet and retweet the address, causing them "substantial injury." The suit also says Lee negligently encouraged "a dangerous mob mentality among his Twitter followers" and the public.

The elderly couple still has trouble sleeping and are anxious and fearful, the lawsuit alleges. It also says the market value of their home has dropped because of the publicity.

"They are seeking more than $15,000, the standard in cases filed Circuit Court, where the suit was filed in September. The case was transferred in October to federal court," the Sentinel reported.

The McClains also reserve their right to seek punitive damages, the lawsuit adds.

Throughout the trial, Martin supporters issued hundreds, if not thousands of death threats against Zimmerman. The threats continued after the trial, with some even calling for the former neighborhood watchman to be beheaded.

The "Twitter lynch mob" also targeted Zimmerman's wife, his attorney and the jurors on the case with death threats that clearly violate Twitter's rules and Facebook pages calling for Zimmerman's death sprang up.

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Elderly couple sue Spike Lee over Zimmerman tweet, cite 'mob mentality'
http://www.examiner.com/article/elderly-couple-sue-spike-lee-over-zimmerman-tweet-cite-mob-mentality

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