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 BULLCRAP !!!!!!
call veterans
Sue the HOA for a violation of the law!!!
That’s why I would never live in an HOA community. What I do on my property in my home is no one’s business as long as I’m not breaking any laws-laws, not rules subjected by some “committee”. It’s called freedom. And I enjoy my freedom.
I WOULD NEVER , NEVER LIVE IN A HOME OWERS $#%&!@*OCIATION PLACE BECAUSE OF THIS KIND OF C**P………………
State and federal law allow the flag
Every HOA has rules…it’s why I would never agree to live under a HOA. He should have read the rules before he signed and agreed to buy in that community.
The rule sucks…but the HOA has every right according to the law to make their own rules no matter how stupid they may be.
Moral of the story…read the fine print before you buy.
It is how things work when you agree to buy into an HOA. He should have read the rules before he agreed to buy in that community. It is a private community and by law they can make the rules.
The rule sucks, but he agreed to them. He should have read the fine print before buying there. It is why I hate HOAs.
They don’t know how to think for themselves Don Johnson…they only know what FOX News spoon feeds them 😉
If you don’t want to live under stupid insane rules…then don’t join an HOA…pretty simple really.