Zimmerman Prepares to Slap State with Legal Fees

George Zimmerman, who was acquitted of second-degree murder in the death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in July, plans to ask the state of Florida to cover $200,000 to $300,000 of his legal fees, his attorney told the Orlando Sentinel on Monday.

Because he was acquitted, Florida law requires the state to pay for his legal costs, minus the largest fee -- the one that goes to his lawyers.

Included in the cost is the cost for expert witnesses, depositions, photocopies and travel. Zimmerman's attorney Mark O'Mara said Monday that he would be preparing a motion to ask Circuit Judge Debra Nelson to authorize the payments.

Public agencies have already spent over $900,000 on Zimmerman's lengthy and highly publicized trial, which ended July 13. Zimmerman was found not guilty of second-degree murder, ultimately prompting protests and a 31-day sit-in at Gov. Rick Scott's office protesting the controversial Stand Your Ground law.

O'Mara hasn't been paid by Zimmerman, but did tell the Orlando Sentinel that he has kept billing records. The defense attorney's standard legal fees bill at $400 an hour, and O'Mara said he worked on the case for 40 hours a week for 16 months, which would bring his work alone to a $1 million price tag. Co-counsel Don West bills at $350 an hour, and West's fees have not been included in O'Mara's estimate.