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Published: 2011-01-20 06:49:00
Updated: 2011-01-20 07:05:30

Posted: January 20, 2011

Court awards $1 to settle Cary sign dispute

David Bowden house

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David Bowden house
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Cary, N.C. — A homeowner has been awarded $1 in damages after the town of Cary tried to fine him for a spray-painted message on his house, according to papers filed in federal court Wednesday.

The ruling also permanently banned Cary from enforcing its sign ordinance against the message "S-----d by the Town of Cary” that David Bowden painted on his home in August 2009. The town had threatened to fine Bowden, but the American Civil Liberties Union sued on his behalf, saying the message is political speech.

Bowden said that he is frustrated by years of unsuccessful negotiation with Cary after construction on Maynard Road that he claims led to drainage problems in his yard and home. In the past, he has said that he wanted Cary to buy his house.

  • Web Editor: Anne Johnson
Copyright 2011 by Capitol Broadcasting Company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

23 Comments


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Latest Comments
Cary offered to fix the drainage problems that were going to arise when they widened the road. He refused entrance on to his property to allow them to do the work, saying he wanted his house bought. His neighbors all took Cary up on their offer, and they have no problems.
kikinc
January 20, 2011 11:29 a.m.
I don't care how this ends or what they do to resolve it. What needs to be done is getting rid of the comma after Cary, like he's going to say more but hasn't painted it yet. It should be a period or an exclamation point.
Click to view my profile Kriterian
January 20, 2011 11:11 a.m.
tracya3904 - that is all he sued for. Read the previous articles.

ghimmy51 - the house looked terrible at the end of 2008 when he started complaining. Mold doesn't grow on the outside of a house and gutters don't get filled with debris because of construction drainage issues.
cantstandgoloanymore
January 20, 2011 10:34 a.m.
golddigger
Click to view my profile Z Man
January 20, 2011 10:33 a.m.
I kind of agree. Would you put money into a money pit? If you can't sell the house, and it's going to cost ALOT to keep it up due to the drainage issues, I would probably try to cut my losses.
dlb800
January 20, 2011 10:26 a.m.
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