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 ridiculous!!!!!!!! I am proud of being an American, and I will fly my flag anytime I feel like it. People come to your senses.
He can fly the flag. The HOA is just saying that he has to do it according to their regulations–that is, he has to fly it from a flagpole attached to his house, and not in a potted plant or some other random place.
What is wrong with this world I thought we had a lot of smart people , but now I don’t no because for someone’s reason everyone is just letting our rights and country go, not standing up fighting back, where are the people at this man needs help for what is right
got to be kidding about this…. i guess if i stick a rebel flag in my flowerpot i’ll problay get a 1 million dollar fine …..hows the liberal government working out for ya now
Not right. What is wrong with people. WE ARE IN AMERICA
Deport those anti Americans.
Liberals happened.
Still stupid. Guess that’s why I don’t live where there is a homeowner $#%&!@*ociation.
Two questions: 1) How can anyone, in the United State of America, make it illegal to display the flag of our country, especially on someone elses’ private property? 2) $#%&!@*uming that this man OWNS his own home, how can any HOA (or government en$#%&!@*y) foreclose on a property that they have no lien on????
HOAs are generally stacked with conservatives, actually.