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 $8,000 and they put a foreclosure lien on my house,” he continued.
Action News wanted to know how that’s possible, so we took our questions to legal and safety expert Dale Carson.
“There’s an actual Florida statute that says he can display this flag,” Carson said.
Federal law from 2005 also backs that up. We reached out to the law office that reprsents the HOA and got attorney Michelle Haines. She tells me if payment is not made within 30 days, the law office can move forward with foreclosure on Murphree’s home. – See more at: http://www.actionnewsjax.com/news/news/local/veteran-may-lose-home-over-flag-fight/ngRCt/#sthash.OTe76VXL.dpuf
this is just insane.
This is so stupid an American Flag never hurt any one and it not racism.
EVERYONE FLY YOUR FLAG! There is no law forbidding this!
You can’t be serious.
One sees all kinds of flags from different countries flying from cars, motor ccycles and such beside the American flag. Since when is it against the law to fly the American flag — I’ll bet it’s someone (who told this vet) that
I don’t give a C**P about any “$#%&!@*ociation”…….there should NEVER be any rule ,Anywhere in the United State’s of America that applies to Our Flag not being welcome !!!!! EVER! Do I make
Oh for God’s sake! This is truly insane! We should be heralding these brave flag flyers and worrying about the real problems of America! LET IT GO!
What’s really a shame is that renters at apartments can’t fly an American flag or I WOULD!
oh this is so wrong. this has to stop it is getting to the point where we dont’ have any freedoms any more.
perhaps it is time we take down the homeowners $#%&!@*ociation