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
Hope he sues for million dollars HOA needs to be banned
WTF HOA !?
Vote out the communists that foster this insanity.
Charles if you really want to get it right you should realize that this particular HOA allows homeowners to fly American Flags as long as they display them according to the HOA rules that the homeowners agreed to when they signed the contract.
Home owners should be allowed to do as they want in their yard and home as long as it’s not beating anyone or doing drugs. I keep my yard well kept and home also. Fly American flag always and state flag. As soon as I get the money There will be a POW FLAG AND CHRISTIAN FLAG FLYING ALSO! My home and if it Offends someone that is too bad. God bless America may God have Mercy on all the IDIOTS AND MUSLIM CAUSING THESE PROBLEMS!
Are you asking why America isn’t mentioned in the bible? It’s because the MEN that wrote the bible 2k years ago didn’t know the continent even existed….just like they didn’t know kangaroos existed.
That’s great Peggy…feel free to do so. Just don’t joined an HOA with regulations you disagree to. It’s really pretty simple….
But God Knew!
We the people need to stand and help folks that fly our flag against hoa’s and others who try and use pc for their own agendas…..
sue the homeowners $#%&!@*oc for violating the law