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 $8,000 and they put a foreclosure lien on my house,” he continued.
Action News wanted to know how that’s possible, so we took our questions to legal and safety expert Dale Carson.
“There’s an actual Florida statute that says he can display this flag,” Carson said.
Federal law from 2005 also backs that up. We reached out to the law office that reprsents the HOA and got attorney Michelle Haines. She tells me if payment is not made within 30 days, the law office can move forward with foreclosure on Murphree’s home. – See more at: http://www.actionnewsjax.com/news/news/local/veteran-may-lose-home-over-flag-fight/ngRCt/#sthash.OTe76VXL.dpuf
We need to call those butt heads n make them stop banishing OKD GLORY!
it’s time to put a stop to this c**p now it’s time for the lawmakers to make a law that allows the people of this nation to fly the American flag in this nation at any time and any where get it done now just as fast as possible
Presumably the majority of people that live in HOA communities WANT to live in an HOA community…that’s how the free market works.
Congress should take the npower away from these HOA Idiot!
I agree it seems petty, but if you allow 1 rule infraction, then you allow a 2nd and then a 3rd and so on…and then the whole neighborhood is exactly what you didn’t want when you joined the HOA. The fact of the matter is the majority of people living in Swee$#%&!@*er community WANT to live in an HOA and actually like these ridiculous rules.
Shame on them!
You are correct, and they have the choice to adapt or leave.
let him have his Flag
That’s a bunch of horse$#%&!@*
NO way!!!