Latest news with #FrankJohnson
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Disabled veteran fights homeowners association lawsuit over flagpole in Florida yard
A disabled veteran in Volusia County, Florida, is at the center of a heated dispute with his homeowners association (HOA) over a flagpole installed in his yard. According to Fox News affiliate Wofl-tv, the Countryside Villas PUD3 HOA has filed a lawsuit against the unnamed veteran, claiming he failed to obtain the required approval before erecting the permanent structure. Despite the legal friction, community support for the veteran has surged, with neighbors speaking out against what they see as harassment and unnecessary litigation. "Leave the veteran alone. He hasn't done anything wrong," Frank Johnson, a veteran himself, told the outlet. "He's called me crying that they're harassing him and bullying him. He's served this country. He's paid his dues. They wanted to get him on a flagpole and some weeds in the lawn. It's pathetic. It's really pathetic." Associated Press Moves To Dismiss Defamation Claim From Veteran Who Defeated Cnn In Court The HOA maintains that its actions are grounded in procedural compliance. Read On The Fox News App In a letter sent to the veteran, the association emphasized that it was not denying his right to fly the American flag, but rather enforcing a policy requiring prior approval for permanent flagpoles. The letter noted that the veteran's military service does not exempt him from these rules. The situation only escalated when the veteran refused to remove the flagpole, accruing $1,000 in fines. The HOA responded by initiating a lawsuit for $8,000 and threatening to place a lien on his property. Orlando Law Managing Partner Jennifer Englert told WOFL-TV that this action may not be legally defensible. Englert explained that Florida statute says as long as the flagpole is under 20 feet, a homeowner can have a flagpole on their property, even if the HOA has rules against it. "Why are you fighting about something that you know you have to allow? That is very clear," she said. Maryland School Suspends Marine Hopeful After American Flag Law Controversy Concerned neighbors and a caregiver have come forward to condemn the HOA's tactics, describing them as bullying and deeply disrespectful to someone who served the country. Margaret Murphy, a resident who attended HOA meetings, took the issue to State Sen. Tom Wright, expressing in a letter that her own father's legacy as a Pearl Harbor survivor compelled her to act. "My father was a survivor in Pearl Harbor. He would be rolling over in his grave if I didn't say something," she told the outlet. In a statement to WOFL-TV, The Countryside PUD Unit III-B HOA, Inc. Board of Directors said that they never told the veteran homeowner that the "flagpole/flag was prohibited." "Factually, this has never been about a flag or a flagpole. The resident was told via multiple correspondences that he absolutely can have them. The situation boils down to that he failed to submit an ARC application, which is required for flagpoles by the HOA. That rule has been in place since 1990," they said. "The resident was given multiple opportunities to remedy the situation including assistance from the American Legion and the Elks. He also was given an opportunity at a hearing that he never showed up for. Florida Statute makes it clear that an HOA resident also needs to follow the governing documents which he has failed to do. This situation is no different than any other architectural guidelines in our docs. As a result, a fine was imposed, and he failed to pay the fine." A pre-trial hearing is scheduled for September. Fox News Digital has reached out to The Countryside PUD Unit III-B HOA, Inc. Board of Directors for article source: Disabled veteran fights homeowners association lawsuit over flagpole in Florida yard
Fox News
4 days ago
- General
- Fox News
Disabled veteran fights homeowners association lawsuit over flagpole in Florida yard
Print Close By Sarah Rumpf-Whitten Published May 30, 2025 A disabled veteran in Volusia County, Florida, is at the center of a heated dispute with his homeowners association (HOA) over a flagpole installed in his yard. According to Fox News affiliate WOFL-TV, the Countryside Villas PUD3 HOA has filed a lawsuit against the unnamed veteran, claiming he failed to obtain the required approval before erecting the permanent structure. Despite the legal friction, community support for the veteran has surged, with neighbors speaking out against what they see as harassment and unnecessary litigation. "Leave the veteran alone. He hasn't done anything wrong," Frank Johnson, a veteran himself, told the outlet. "He's called me crying that they're harassing him and bullying him. He's served this country. He's paid his dues. They wanted to get him on a flagpole and some weeds in the lawn. It's pathetic. It's really pathetic." ASSOCIATED PRESS MOVES TO DISMISS DEFAMATION CLAIM FROM VETERAN WHO DEFEATED CNN IN COURT The HOA maintains that its actions are grounded in procedural compliance. In a letter sent to the veteran, the association emphasized that it was not denying his right to fly the American flag, but rather enforcing a policy requiring prior approval for permanent flagpoles. The letter noted that the veteran's military service does not exempt him from these rules. The situation only escalated when the veteran refused to remove the flagpole, accruing $1,000 in fines. The HOA responded by initiating a lawsuit for $8,000 and threatening to place a lien on his property. Orlando Law Managing Partner Jennifer Englert told WOFL-TV that this action may not be legally defensible. Englert explained that Florida statute says as long as the flagpole is under 20 feet, a homeowner can have a flagpole on their property, even if the HOA has rules against it. "Why are you fighting about something that you know you have to allow? That is very clear," she said. MARYLAND SCHOOL SUSPENDS MARINE HOPEFUL AFTER AMERICAN FLAG LAW CONTROVERSY Concerned neighbors and a caregiver have come forward to condemn the HOA's tactics, describing them as bullying and deeply disrespectful to someone who served the country. Margaret Murphy, a resident who attended HOA meetings, took the issue to State Sen. Tom Wright, expressing in a letter that her own father's legacy as a Pearl Harbor survivor compelled her to act. "My father was a survivor in Pearl Harbor. He would be rolling over in his grave if I didn't say something," she told the outlet. In a statement to WOFL-TV, The Countryside PUD Unit III-B HOA, Inc. Board of Directors said that they never told the veteran homeowner that the "flagpole/flag was prohibited." "Factually, this has never been about a flag or a flagpole. The resident was told via multiple correspondences that he absolutely can have them. The situation boils down to that he failed to submit an ARC application, which is required for flagpoles by the HOA. That rule has been in place since 1990," they said. "The resident was given multiple opportunities to remedy the situation including assistance from the American Legion and the Elks. He also was given an opportunity at a hearing that he never showed up for. Florida Statute makes it clear that an HOA resident also needs to follow the governing documents which he has failed to do. This situation is no different than any other architectural guidelines in our docs. As a result, a fine was imposed, and he failed to pay the fine." CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP A pre-trial hearing is scheduled for September. Fox News Digital has reached out to The Countryside PUD Unit III-B HOA, Inc. Board of Directors for comment. Sarah Rumpf-Whitten is a U.S. Writer at Fox News Digital. Since joining in 2021, she's covered high-stakes criminal justice—from the Menendez brothers' resentencing, where Judge Jesic slashed their life-without-parole terms to 50-years-to-life (making them parole-eligible), to the assassination attempts on President Donald Trump's life and shifting immigration enforcement, including her reporting on South Florida's illegal-immigration crisis, covering unprecedented migrant crossings from the Bahamas and ensuing enforcement operations. Beyond those beats, she reports on crime, politics, business, lifestyle, world news, and more—delivering both breaking updates and in-depth analysis across Fox News Digital. You can follow her on Twitter and LinkedIn. Print Close URL
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Disabled veteran sued by HOA over flagpole for which he has permit
The Brief An HOA is suing a disabled veteran over a flagpole he put up in his front yard to display the American flag. Florida statute says homeowners can have flagpoles even if their HOAs have rules about them. The homeowner does have a permit approved by the City of Port Orange for his flagpole. PORT ORANGE, Fla, - A Florida HOA is using a resident, a disabled veteran, over a flagpole he put up in his front yard to fly the American flag. What we know The Countryside Villas PUD-3 HOA in Port Orange is suing one of its residents, a disabled veteran, over a flagpole he erected to display the American flag. The HOA sent the homeowner a letter saying, "Permanent flag poles require approval prior to construction." They sent him warning letters, notices of fines and of increased fines, a hearing notice, and eventually served him with a lawsuit because he didn't pay the $1,000 fines they levied against him. One of the letters threatens they can place a lien on his home if he doesn't pay the fine. City records show inspectors came out twice and gave the flagpole the okay three weeks before the lawsuit was ever filed. An HOA attorney explained to FOX 35's Marie Edinger, Florida Statute now says as long as it's under 20 feet high, you can have a flagpole on your property, even if your HOA has rules against it. What we don't know FOX 35's Marie Edinger asked the HOA twice whether there was any remedy they could see that would result in the lawsuit being dropped; the first time, she did receive a response but that question was ignored, so she followed up to ask again. The HOA Board wrote back, "We would need to check with our attorney. However the resident is currently hospitalized." What they're saying Neighbors are up in arms over this issue. "Leave the veteran alone. He hasn't done anything wrong," said Frank Johnson, a veteran himself. Johnson assisted with the permit application for the flagpole. "He's called me crying that they're harassing him and bullying him," he added. "He's served this country. He's paid his dues. They want to get him on a flagpole and some weeds in the lawn. It's pathetic. It's really pathetic." Robert Sabatino say's he's pushing for a recall election because of all this. He's a history teacher. "I spend my year telling students all year that governments exist because the people allow it. And when the government becomes too abusive, it's up to the people to take it back and change it." Margaret Murphy sent the State Senator for the area, Tom Wright, a letter asking for guidance. "My father is a survivor of Pearl Harbor. He would be rolling over in his grave if I didn't say something." The HOA did not respond by FOX 35's deadline, but did respond afterward. The Board said in a statement that this is not about a flag or a flagpole. "The resident was told via multiple correspondences that he absolutely can have them. The situation boils down to that he failed to submit an ARC application which is required for flagpoles by the HOA. That rule has been in place since 1990," the HOA Board said. "Florida Statute makes it clear that an HOA resident also needs to follow the governing documents which he has failed to do. This situation is no different than any other Architectural guideline in our docs. As a result, a fine was imposed and he failed to pay the fine." An HOA attorney and the Managing Partner of Orlando Law group, Jennifer Englert, says this particular statue is much clearer than average: you have to allow flagpoles. "Why are you fighting about something that you know you have to allow, that is very clear?" she said. What's next There is a pre-trial hearing for this case in September. STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 35 ORLANDO: Download the FOX Local app for breaking news alerts, the latest news headlines Download the FOX 35 Storm Team Weather app for weather alerts & radar Sign up for FOX 35's daily newsletter for the latest morning headlines FOX Local:Stream FOX 35 newscasts, FOX 35 News+, Central Florida Eats on your smart TV The Source FOX 35's Marie Edinger read the lawsuit against the veteran in its entirety. She talked with two different HOA attorneys about the laws regarding flagpoles erected on private properties in communities with homeowners' associations in the state of Florida. She spoke with five people living within The Villas who discussed concerns over the HOA's handling of this lawsuit, as well as a woman who's been caring for the disabled veteran. She reached out to the HOA and to the HOA's attorney. She reviewed permit applications for the veteran's flagpole. She read a letter one community member sent the State Senator representing the area.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Ex-PM Boris Johnson and wife announce birth of their fourth child
Former prime minister Boris Johnson has welcomed his fourth child with his wife, Carrie Johnson. Mrs Johnson shared the news on social media of the birth of Poppy Eliza Josephine Johnson on 21 May. She wrote in a post on Instagram: "I can't believe how pretty and tiny you are. Feel so incredibly lucky. We are all totally smitten. Not sure I've slept a minute since you were born as can't stop looking at how completely lovely you are." Poppy is the couple's fourth child, after Wilfred, Romy, and Frank. Mrs Johnson continued: "Thank you so much to the amazing maternity team at UCLH and particularly to Asma and Patrick who have looked after me so well through all my pregnancies. I really cannot thank you guys enough. "Wilf, Romy and Frank are utterly delighted, particularly Romy who was desperate for a little sister. Bring on the matching dresses." She said she is out of hospital and looking forward to "cocktails and pizza with my tiny baby snoozing on my lap". "Life doesn't get any better," Mrs Johnson added. The couple married in May 2021. Their eldest, Wilf, was born in April 2020, followed by Romy in December 2021, and Frank in July 2023. Their daughter Poppy, who Mrs Johnson said is the "final gang member", is Mr Johnson's ninth child. Read more on Sky News:Man arrested after four people die in fireTrade wars reignate as EU strikes back against Trump Mr Johnson, 60, finally confirmed the number of children he had - at the time it was six - during an interview in 2021, after much speculation. He also has four children with ex-wife Marina Wheeler, and a child born in 2009 as a result of an affair with art consultant Helen Macintyre.
Sky News
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Sky News
Ex-PM Boris Johnson and wife announce birth of their fourth child
Former prime minister Boris Johnson has welcomed his fourth child with his wife Carrie Johnson. Mrs Johnson shared the news on social media of the birth of Poppy Eliza Josephine Johnson on 21 May. She wrote in a post on Instagram: "I can't believe how pretty and tiny you are. Feel so incredibly lucky. We are all totally smitten." Poppy is the couple's fourth child, after Wilfred, Romy, and Frank. Please refresh the page for the fullest version.
