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
There’s his first mistake. Moving into a HOA community!
Thank you again. I appreciate the info. I had no idea.
What on earth are you talking about, Cindy? Do you know what a Homeowner’s $#%&!@*ociation is? Do you understand that this isn’t about some group of “foreigners” out to “destroy our country” by not “following OUR rules”?
Cindy you clearly have no idea (nor do you appear to care) about the facts of this particular situation. No one “whined” because it was an American Flag….I am fairly certain the HOA rules apply to all flags and displays.
This isn’t destroying the country. Clearly people that live in HOA have chosen to live by HOA rules. And if you don’t want to abide by those rules don’t sign the contract. Sounds pretty American to me.
This is a bunch of c**p. Fly that flag if you choose.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
How can he be fined $8000, for a flag in his flowerpot, Is this America????
Home Owners $#%&!@*ociation or not it, we should be allowed to fly the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA flag! Maybe your $#%&!@*ociation should change your rules!
What’s it gonna take to put an end to this kind of c**p?
Are they gonna make us act like Black Lives Matter?
I would move out of that community.move to the south and prepare to defend the flag from Muslims and Obama .and his supporters.period
Ummmm….I think HOA’s are terrible and I would never live in one. And yet again…..the HOA in the article ALLOWS HOMEOWNERS TO FLY FLAGS..they just have restrictions on HOW the flags are displayed. You clearly don’t want to bother understanding the situation before you spout out all your xenophobic talking points….