Florida judge Debra Nelson has dismissed part of George Zimmerman's lawsuit against NBCUniversal, according to court spokeswoman Michelle Kennedy.
Kennedy said Judge Nelson dismissed Zimmerman's claim against Jeff Burnside, a reporter for NBC owned station WTVJ in Miami, because Zimmerman's lawyer had not complied with the notification procedures under a Florida statute.
The judge also said that she will rule on a motion for summary judgment that had been filed by NBCUniversal.
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Zimmerman has sued NBCUniversal for defamation over broadcasts that aired in March of 2012.
A spokesman for NBC News said Thursday: "We appreciated the opportunity, at the outset of the case, to present our arguments at today's hearing why it should not proceed further."
Zimmerman acknowledged that he shot and killed Trayvon Martin in February 2012 and asserted it was self-defense. A Seminole County jury acquitted him of a second-degree murder charge in July 2013.
Judge Nelson, who is presiding over the lawsuit, was also the judge for Zimmerman's criminal trial.
Zimmerman was not present in court Thursday.
NBCUniversal is a parent company of NBC News.
