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 isn’t America . . . the land of the free . . . anymore, is it?
Sorry you AMERICANS are weird, can’t FLY your own FLAG, be fined ?? How crazy is that, your country your flag, who sold you out ???
Absolutely despicable! He has a constitutional right to do this! What’s happening in our country when a veteran can’t fly the American flag!
I was in the U S , in June n July your flag NEVER NEVER offends me in fact its one of the best !!!!
WHY is the LAW not defending this man ???
This is obama’s amerika
Well Helen Shultz, would you believe it’s that OBIMBO in OUR WHITE HOUSE? And the politicians who could have done something about it a LONG time ago has screwed us ALL over. I just hope people from other countries realize that NOT EVERYONE in this COUNTRY is as VIAL as he & his cronies are. God help us. Nobody else is.
he did a big error but pray for some consideration given to him where he resides
Fight those communist bastards !!!!! Don’t give in if you don’t have too .
This is ridiculous that this can happen to any vet !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!