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Published: 2011-04-20 15:31:00
Updated: 2011-04-20 15:31:00

Posted: April 20, 2011

Cary to appeal ruling for homeowner's sign

David Bowden house

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David Bowden house
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Cary, N.C. — Town officials said Wednesday that they plan to appeal a federal judge's ruling for a Cary homeowner over a message he displayed on his home.

U.S. District Judge Louise Flanagan ruled in December that the town violated David Bowden’s freedom of speech when it fined him for spray-painting the phrase “Screwed by the Town of Cary” on the front of his home at 305 Maynard Road.

In February, she ordered the town to pay $46,197.27 in fees.

Town officials said Bowden violated an ordinance that specifies how and where signs can be displayed in the community. Flanagan ruled, however, that the town’s rules were content-based because they don’t regulate holiday decorations or other things not commonly considered to be signs.

Copyright 2011 by Capitol Broadcasting Company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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You might want to reference the associated links also. One of the headlines clearly says, "Homeowner seeks $1 from Cary in sign dispute". He filed a lawsuit for a permanent ban from enforcing the ordinance against him as well as all legal fees and $1.00 in damages.
Click to view my profile Hater like Darth Vader
April 21, 2011 5:04 p.m.
He didn't sue for a dollar....that's the amount he was awarded (reference the associated story links) after he won the right to keep his stupid "sign" up. He said on camera ... I heard it with my own 2 ears ... he wanted $170K for the house and $80K for his "aggravation." That sounds to me like he is indeed interested in money.

First class hater, huh? Remember....the first step to recovery is admitting the problem. :o)
Click to view my profile Unfair Moderators Stink
April 21, 2011 3:31 p.m.
It's not that I care to always have negative opionions (Although, I am a first class hater) it is the fact that people actually support people like this guy who didn't even bother to negotiate like a civil human being and he instead opted out in order to take the route of costing both sides a lot of money for no personal gain. Remember, the dude isn't doing this for money, he sued the town for $1.00. He isn't interested in any actual solution that anyone would agree to.
Click to view my profile Hater like Darth Vader
April 21, 2011 3:00 p.m.
@Hater : "Be Nice for a Change" isn't just a name for GoLo posting....it's a suggestion for folks such as yourself who seem to thrive on insulting anyone here who doesn't share your negative opinions.
Click to view my profile Unfair Moderators Stink
April 21, 2011 11:41 a.m.
I think that Cary will loose because it is political speech, so they should drop it. I don't think they shouldn't pay him anymore than the $1.00 damages and the attorney fees. I say this so folks won't think that we believers in the first amendment also want TOC to buy his house.
wa4mjf
April 21, 2011 11:37 a.m.
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