JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The Stars and Stripes are at the center of controversy. At least at Larry Murphree's 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.
Larry Murphree is in a fight with his homeowners association
over the fight to display a flag in a flower pot holder.
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.
Last year, after a similar fight, he filed a lawsuit and settled out of court, but the HOA flag display rules have been rewritten since then. Murphree said he won't stop until he can freely fly his flag.
“When I first moved here, I loved it. it was wonderful. But it got where I’m being nitpicked more and more. I’ve lost a lot of friends and neighbors moving out. I don't want to move."