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
i understand the rule of law,but this is totally ridiculous!!!!
That is why I personally would never live in a HOA housing place, as a retired vet I fly my Flag 24/7 as I have a light on it. I would fight these people to the day I died, as I paid my dues in the military to have the RIGHT to fly our National Symbel. Be damn if someone is going to tell me I can fly the Flag I fought for, for thirty years. Navy retired.
My husband is a vet i can’t believe r gov can allow such things as this to happy u can risk ur life for ur country but ur not allowed to place r flag out for people to see come onamerica stand up for r soilders
Another hoa out of control
What happened to this country?
This is NOT the American way. WRONG WRONG WRONG
HOW STUPID!!!!!
Where are these people coming from it has to come from the White House
Thats f**e no way
This is just wrong! Go on a local TV show and expose these people!