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
Yall said it!
You probably should have said YOU instead of WE…..you can only speak for yourself and your opinion. HOA rules are stupid. Everyone knows that and so does this guy when he signed on the dotted line. This HOA allows homes to fly Flags they just have restriction on the manner in which the flag is displayed.
So instead of making an effort to READ and understand the story before forming an opinion…you read the headline and then just $#%&!@*ume it’s foreigners. How sad. This was an HOA and he agreed to live by their rules. And in this community they ARE ALLOWED to fly the flag if they want they simply have restrictions on the manner in which the flag is displayed.
Good luck with your xenophobia….
Edward I am fairly certain she is serious…..amazing isn’t it?
Unless you decide to live in an community with an HOA and you agree to live by their ridiculous rules of HOW you can display your flag.
What college professor idiots taught these politicians?
Swee$#%&!@*er Community HOA in Jacksonville, Florida—attorney Michelle Haines said she will put a lien on his home if the $8000 isn’t paid in 30 days—Florida statute states that he can fly this flag, so where does this HOA get off making up their own laws & fining people who don’t comply??? This Veteran needs an attorney to step up to the plate and counter sue this HOA!!!
We should be allowed to fly our flag anywhere! Where is our freedom and rights? And WHY do cater to the whiners, that are out to destroy our Country! Live here, they should follow OUR rules not expect us to change to their demands because they are “offended”
Thank you. I did not know hoa rules could supercede state or federal rule.
They aren’t stopping him from flying his flag…OTHER HOMES FLY THE FLAG IN THE COMMUNITY…their just are restriction on how the flag is displayed.