Veteran Larry Murphfree from Jacksonville, FL was fined $8000 and had a foreclosure lien placed on his home for putting a small American flag in his flowerpot – even though he had a legal right to do so. If he doesn’t pay within 30 days he might lose his home.
“I want it to go away. It’s such a minor little thing and they keep coming after me,” he explained.
“They” is Murphree’s homeowner’s association. He’s lived in the Sweetwater community for years, and been at odds with the HOA for more than two. All over a flag. The veteran decided to put one in his flower pot, and has been fined as a result.
“They just sent me a letter that says I owe them around $8,000 and they put a foreclosure lien on my house,” he continued.
Action News wanted to know how that’s possible, so we took our questions to legal and safety expert Dale Carson.
“There’s an actual Florida statute that says he can display this flag,” Carson said.
Federal law from 2005 also backs that up. We reached out to the law office that reprsents the HOA and got attorney Michelle Haines. She tells me if payment is not made within 30 days, the law office can move forward with foreclosure on Murphree’s home. – See more at: http://www.actionnewsjax.com/news/news/local/veteran-may-lose-home-over-flag-fight/ngRCt/#sthash.OTe76VXL.dpuf
this is the most awful thing to happen in this country we whe we cant fly our on flag its a sin we r the home of free and the brave we have to stand up for our rights before its to late we should march on ws
Yes Dorothy, everyone should be able to fly an American flag but not if you have signed a contract that says you can’t. I haven’t read his contract but Mr. Murphfree probably gave up that right when signed the contract with his home owners association. It’s just like people that buy a home near an airport and then complain about the noise.
ashington
buy yourself a bic lighter and do your own thing Sir.
Makes me sick!”
You have got to be kidding me
This is America !! You fought for us – It your right to fly your flag .
Everyone should be able to show the American flag, even those who live in “planned” communities, condos, apartments or trailer parks. Raising the flag in part of our liberty stated in the Declaration of Independence and the Preamble to the Constitution: We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence,[1] promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
How ridiculous! He better not lose his home and he should not be fined. The idiots who want to fine him should be kicked out.
and I thought it was our Fed Govt and UN etc
Any one else want to join an home owners association?