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Article
and Video Courtesy Channel 47 Action News
Reporter
Erica Bennett
Published
January 3, 2012
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JACKSONVILLE
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Fla.-- Folks here in the Sweetwater subdivision say "enough is
enough." All they want to do is decorate for the holidays, but the
Homeowner's Association is making it hard.
"It's like they won't leave us alone," Larry Murphree said.
Monday,
we brought you the story of Larry Murphree-- who's at the
front of the battle. Some of his HOA rules include no
exterior decorations and no light displays, unless they're
on the inside of the home.
To get around that, he got creative and put his festive
spirit on wheels, which he's now being told to take down.
In result, Murphree and his lawyer have filed a class action
lawsuit against the HOA.
"According to my attorney, I'm legally within my rights
to express myself with lights," he said. |
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Murphree
isn't the only one frustrated. Several other homeowners have had their
decorations taken down, and in some cases, trashed.
"Very
disappointing," frowned Sandra Timpone. "And this is not what we
signed up for, no matter what anyone says. This was not in the
paperwork."
The paperwork Timpone is referring to is the agreement each person had to
sign before moving to Sweetwater. The HOA says the rules were made
clear, and in order for the neighborhood to look neat, the rules must
be enforced.
Murphree says the HOA makes up rules as it goes, and that he and
neighbors won't back down.
"They're just trying to band together and see what we can do
about stopping these over the top restrictions they have on our lives
here," he said.
Murphree's lawsuit also includes an American flag he has displayed in his
flower pot. He says the HOA has a problem with that too, and has demanded
he take it down.
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