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 $8,000 and they put a foreclosure lien on my house,” he continued.
Action News wanted to know how that’s possible, so we took our questions to legal and safety expert Dale Carson.
“There’s an actual Florida statute that says he can display this flag,” Carson said.
Federal law from 2005 also backs that up. We reached out to the law office that reprsents the HOA and got attorney Michelle Haines. She tells me if payment is not made within 30 days, the law office can move forward with foreclosure on Murphree’s home. – See more at: http://www.actionnewsjax.com/news/news/local/veteran-may-lose-home-over-flag-fight/ngRCt/#sthash.OTe76VXL.dpuf
I think he should counter sue them!
I hope a good lawyer offers to help this guy and get Lein gone and then turn around and sue them for har$#%&!@*ment .
hoa hoes owning America
Rediculous
No dude…totally different country….recent survey showed we are the country in the world where people enjoy the most freedom…our government is not run by corrupt politian and secret puppet-masters.You tried to corrupt us in 2003 when you invaded Iraq under false pretences…but we sat that corrupt bs war out…..different government structure …we don’t have a congress bought off by rich special interest groups and banksters…we don’t have a Muslim Brotherhood O$#%&!@*tator gutting our cons$#%&!@*ution….We don’t live in a ploice state like you do with cops driving in M-RAPS and full tactical gear…Our cops don’t shoot innocent people in the streets every day…or ANY day…We don’t have corrupt banks where you-the tax-payer- had to bail them out…..see the difference???
You guys are so lazy, and will believe anything. It literally took 2 mins to find out UNTRUE this story is. According to Swee$#%&!@*er’s owner the lien is a completely different matter that has already been SETTLED. Other residence in the community are allowed to fly the American flag because they do so in a Proper Manner…….
” I am a property owner in Swee$#%&!@*er in Jacksonville, FL, the community where Mr. Murphree resides, and am quite familiar with the ongoing saga involving Mr. Murphree. The lien on Mr. Murphree’s property has nothing to do with the American Flag, which has been settled by a Federal Court Judge and is a matter of public record, but rather relates to other obligations that he has not met. Our $#%&!@*ociation has rules and regulations in place regarding flying the American Flag and does not prohibit proper use in any way. Numerous residents in our community honor and fly the American Flag in a proper manner, yet Fox News has chosen to spotlight a disgruntled resident who ignores the rules and has opted instead to honor our flag by displaying it in a flower pot. How patriotic is that! What has happened to fair and balanced reporting, Fox News! “
well ill judt file bankrupcy cause i hsve a large one flying in my yard and God will ebe the only one to remove it
It should be ilegal to fine, punish, or stop someone for being patriotic. I personally think that obama wants people not to be proud of the usa so he can slip us in under the control of the United nations. A proud people will never submit to another power. Why else would he promote racism, cop hatred, destroy the economy and push for ilegals to be admitted into the us. Nothing happens by accident.
Or you could choose not to buy a home in an area governed by a homeowner’s $#%&!@*ociation that restricts things you don’t want restricted. Or you could choose to get on the HOA board and suggest changes to the charter of the HOA.
Disgusting.