Medical Examiner in Zimmerman Murder Trial Fired; Plans to Sue

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Volusia and Seminole County associate medical examiner Shiping Bao MD testifies during George Zimmerman's trial in Seminole circuit court in Sanford, Fla.

Shipin Bao, the Volusia County, Fla., coroner who examined the body of Trayvon Martin and changed his mind regarding how long the teen lived after he was shot, was fired last week and is filing a $100 million lawsuit against his former bosses.

Volusia County released a letter dated Aug. 23 saying he was terminated after being given 30 days to resign his position. Bao declined to leave his job and was terminated upon his refusal. Spokesman Dave Byron did not give a specific reason for the firing, according to CBS News.

During the murder trial of Martin’s killer, George Zimmerman, Bao testified that the teen lived between one and three minutes before he died, but later said he lived up to 10 minutes based on an observation in a similar case. Zimmerman’s defense pounced on the change in viewpoint, which may have accelerated an acquittal.

Bao’s attorney Willie E. Gary announced that he plans to file suit against Volusia County Medical Examiner’s Office for wrongful termination, discrimination, and job harassment.