A Florida homeowner found herself in a legal battle with her homeowners’ association that escalated to the point where she was jailed without bond. Irena Green, a mother of two, had been dealing with violations from Riverview’s Creek View HOA’s management company, The Trowbridge Company, Inc.
The feud began when Green received a notice about the dead, slightly brown grass in her front yard. She explained that a massive tree in her yard and mandatory watering restrictions due to a drought made it challenging to maintain her lawn. Despite her efforts, more notices piled up from the HOA, including ones for minor dents in her garage, a dirty mailbox, and having a commercial cargo van without logos in her driveway.
The situation worsened when Green failed to respond to the requests and the HOA filed a lawsuit against her, demanding that she correct all the violations. Representing herself in court, Green presented explanations and evidence, but they were rejected by the HOA and the judge.
During a hearing in July 2024, the judge gave Green 30 days to correct the issues, including bringing her grass up to par. She complied with the orders, making all necessary corrections by selling her van and maintaining her lawn. However, she missed her next court appearance, claiming she was never personally served a notice to appear.
The judge found Green in contempt of court and issued a warrant for her arrest, which led to her being pulled over and booked into jail without bond. Green expressed her shock and distress at being treated like a criminal for what she deemed minor violations.
After spending seven days in jail, Green’s paralegal sister-in-law filed a petition for an emergency hearing. The HOA’s attorney claimed that Green appeared in court in July and was given another court date for August 19, 2024, to have the issues resolved.
The incident has sparked outrage and raised questions about the power and actions of homeowners’ associations. Green’s experience serves as a cautionary tale for homeowners dealing with strict HOA regulations and the potential consequences of non-compliance.
