home
Obama Lawn Sign Battle, An Obama lawn sign battle that began in 2008 in an Olde Belhaven neighborhood between a Northern Virginia Fairfax County family and their homeowner’s association cost the community more than just money, according to a Feb. 9 Washington Post report. The Washington Post has an amazing story about how an Obama lawn sign ignited an intense legal battle in a Virginia neighborhood.
Sam and Maria Farran put an Obama election sign up in their yard leading up to the 2008 election. But what seems like a harmless political statement allegedly violated the stipulations of the homeowners association that governs the sleepy Virginia neighborhood where they live. The sign, it turns out, was four inches too tall. One particularly overzealous neighbor filed a complaint with the association and the Farrans were asked to take it down. Instead, they had a batter idea. They cut the sign in half. The homeowners association didn't appreciate the couples' humor, though, and fined them $900 for the infraction.
The association board believed they were operating within Virgina law, but the Farrans saw this as a violation of their free speech by a group of proto-communists trying to run their neighborhood like 1940s Russia. After the board rejected the couples' proposal for roof and deck renovations under less than legitimate seeming circumstances, the Farrans filed a lawsuit against the association. The battle lines in the neighborhood were drawn. And these people take their legal battles very seriously:
The Farrans said HOA backers told them to move. They found bullets in their yard. Someone implored a priest at their church to prevail on the Farrans to stop the lawsuit. A local real estate agent said the infighting was scaring off some home buyers. The battle began after Sam and Maria Farran planted the sign in their year during the 2008 presidential elections. The sign was four inches taller than the home association’s covenants allowed. An upset neighbor sent in an email complaining, “Need I say more! This would lead to chaos. Our property values would be put at risk.”
After four years in courts, the homeowners’ association went bankrupt. Things grew so bad that the common area of Olde Belhaven was put up for sale last year to settle its debts. “It destroyed our community,” Maria Farran said.
The issue created a stark divide in the community with the Farrans saying they were standing up to the homeowner’s association, while supporters of the homeowner’s association saw a selfish couple bankrupting a community just to make a point.
The Farrans, who acknowledge that the sign broke the rules, said that after they were asked to remove the sign, chose to instead cut it in half, planting “OBA” and “MA” signs in front of their yard, making a point that their free speech would not be abridged.
Sam and Maria Farran put an Obama election sign up in their yard leading up to the 2008 election. But what seems like a harmless political statement allegedly violated the stipulations of the homeowners association that governs the sleepy Virginia neighborhood where they live. The sign, it turns out, was four inches too tall. One particularly overzealous neighbor filed a complaint with the association and the Farrans were asked to take it down. Instead, they had a batter idea. They cut the sign in half. The homeowners association didn't appreciate the couples' humor, though, and fined them $900 for the infraction.
The association board believed they were operating within Virgina law, but the Farrans saw this as a violation of their free speech by a group of proto-communists trying to run their neighborhood like 1940s Russia. After the board rejected the couples' proposal for roof and deck renovations under less than legitimate seeming circumstances, the Farrans filed a lawsuit against the association. The battle lines in the neighborhood were drawn. And these people take their legal battles very seriously:
The Farrans said HOA backers told them to move. They found bullets in their yard. Someone implored a priest at their church to prevail on the Farrans to stop the lawsuit. A local real estate agent said the infighting was scaring off some home buyers. The battle began after Sam and Maria Farran planted the sign in their year during the 2008 presidential elections. The sign was four inches taller than the home association’s covenants allowed. An upset neighbor sent in an email complaining, “Need I say more! This would lead to chaos. Our property values would be put at risk.”
After four years in courts, the homeowners’ association went bankrupt. Things grew so bad that the common area of Olde Belhaven was put up for sale last year to settle its debts. “It destroyed our community,” Maria Farran said.
The issue created a stark divide in the community with the Farrans saying they were standing up to the homeowner’s association, while supporters of the homeowner’s association saw a selfish couple bankrupting a community just to make a point.
The Farrans, who acknowledge that the sign broke the rules, said that after they were asked to remove the sign, chose to instead cut it in half, planting “OBA” and “MA” signs in front of their yard, making a point that their free speech would not be abridged.
Home
