Matthew Apperson Free On Bond While Zimmerman’s Social Advocates Violate HIPAA

Let me say this before going further. I really don’t care that Matthew Apperson has been charged for shooting at George Zimmerman. I really don’t care whether Zimmerman was or wasn’t the aggressor. What I find is that this is all entertaining and as the case progresses, we shall see whether Zimmerman behaves in his demonstrated pattern.

When Zimmerman filed suit against Ames, it was reported that Zimmerman was subpoenaed for deposition, and he failed to appear.

When Zimmerman appeared at his bail hearing, and he took the stand and was cross-examined, he became physically agitated, vague, and forgetful. He never took the witness stand thereafter, even waiving his right to a stand your ground hearing, which would have required him to testify.

Zimmerman filed suit against NBC for defamation, but his lawyers did not proceed to discovery. It would have required that Zimmerman be deposed. Judge Nelson, who also presided over Zimmerman’s second degree murder case, dismissed Zimmerman’s lawsuit.

Orlando Sentinel reports;

“Mr. Zimmerman was relieved when he learned of Mr. Apperson’s arrest,” said Don West, attorney for Zimmerman. “George has confidence in the Seminole County State Attorney’s office to effectively prosecute Mr. Apperson and he will continue to cooperate in the investigation and prosecution of the case.”

We shall see. In this matter involving Matthew Apperson, we shall see whether the State’s star witness is going to cooperate by testifying, subjecting himself to cross-examination by defense attorneys.  Maybe the interrogation and mischaracterization of testimony and events committed by Don West upon Rachel Jentel in Zimmerman’s second-degree murder trial, will come back to haunt Zimmerman. Can he withstand two days in the witness boxed being asked the same questions in 10 different ways?

What the world has seen of George Zimmerman is that he only talks when he has the spotlight, with no opportunity to be asked questions from opposing parties.

Apperson Free On Bond

Matthew Apperson at his appearance for bond.

Matthew Apperson, 35 of Winter Springs, Florida, has been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, and firing a deadly missile into an occupied conveyance.

At his bond hearing this morning, Apperson was ordered to turn over his weapons and avoid contact with George Zimmerman. Since Zimmerman claims to be in hiding and doesn’t want his address and common places known, Apperson has been ordered that if he sees Zimmerman in a public place, that he has to leave.

Matt Appearson’s bond was set at $35,000, and he bonded out of jail this afternoon. His next court appearance is for arraignment, scheduled for June 23rd. Judge Nelson will preside over the arraignment hearing.

Zimmerman’s Social Media Advocates Clearly Violate Federal Law This Time

George Zimmerman revealed to the world in March 2012 that he is all too happy to have others advocate for him, while he stays silent. His way of advocacy involves people denigrating the opposing party. His dad, brother, Frank Taaffe, and John Oliver, interjected themselves in the media painting Trayvon in a bad light based on Zimmerman’s perception. However, this time, George is not charged with a crime, so why are his social media advocates busy trying to prove his innocence by denigrating Apperson and violating federal law?

From March 2012 until his acquittal on July 13, 2013, Zimmerman’s social media advocates went on a mission to find the personal information of witnesses, and members of Trayvon’s family. They made up what they didn’t know, even alleging that innocent minors were “DeeDee,” Trayvon’s friend who was on the phone with Trayvon as he was being followed and accosted by Zimmerman. Some claimed being able to uncover redacted portions of investigation reports released to the media that hid the names and addresses of witnesses. Zimmerman’s social media advocates relish as wanna-be sleuths, as if the public is interested in knowing how many traffic tickets someone received, where they work, or when their great-great grandparents were married.

This time, the police redacted a portion of their report and rightfully did so. Zimmerman’s advocates however, claim to have recovered a redacted portion and are spreading it through social media. It did not occur to them that when law enforcement redacts information that they are complying with privacy law. In this case, the redaction complies with federal, health privacy law.

HIPAA provides civil and criminal penalties for improper disclosures of medical information. 42 U.S.C. §§ 1320d-5, d-6. HIPAA limits enforcement of the statute to the Secretary of Health and Human Services.

“The Office for Civil Rights enforces the HIPAA Privacy Rule, which protects the privacy of individually identifiable health information; the HIPAA Security Rule, which sets national standards for the security of electronic protected health information; the HIPAA Breach Notification Rule, which requires covered entities and business associates to provide notification following a breach of unsecured protected health information; and the confidentiality provisions of the Patient Safety Rule, which protect identifiable information being used to analyze patient safety events and improve patient safety.”

Here’s a video made by someone who I would never be friends with, but it shows the origination for the violation of federal HIPPA law. The title is misleading because it was not hidden text but rather, redacted. No matter how it was redacted, it was not intended to be readable. Yes, the origination began on a blog that has a reputation for being racially offensive and doxing.