Court upholds city’s $30,000 fine for man’s overgrown lawn

(WPLG)

DUNEDIN, Fla. – A federal court has upheld a Florida city’s decision to issue nearly $30,000 in code violation fines to a homeowner whose lawn was overgrown.

A judge from the Middle District of Florida ruled this week that 71-year-old Jim Ficken will have to pay the fines to the city of Dunedin.

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The fines were issued in 2018.

Ficken sued in May 2019 after the city sought to collect the fines by foreclosing on his home.

His lawyers argue the fines were excessive and given with no notice.

The city says Ficken’s repeated violations justified the fines of $500 per day.