Courts Refuse To Protect Property Owners From Insane Fines episode artwork

EPISODE · Mar 12, 2026 · 36 MIN

Courts Refuse To Protect Property Owners From Insane Fines

from Beyond the Brief

In Florida, if a town doesn’t like what you do with your lawn, you could face bankruptcy. Sandy Martinez is stuck with $165,000 in fines for completely harmless code violations, most of it for occasionally parking a car a little bit over her driveway and onto the grass. Jim Ficken faced foreclosure of his home because his grass grew too long while he was out of town.  Today we are joined by IJ attorneys Andrew Ward and Mike Greenberg. We’re discussing Florida’s devastating daily-accruing fine system, how courts have refused to stop these abuses, and how IJ is fighting back.  https://youtu.be/cnSW-AcP6_Q Become a Monthly Donor Are you looking for a rewarding and consistent way to support IJ’s work?  Become a member of our Merry Band of Monthly Donors and stand shoulder to shoulder with our clients every month of the year. Donate now

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Courts Refuse To Protect Property Owners From Insane Fines

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How long is this episode of Beyond the Brief?

This episode is 36 minutes long.

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This episode was published on March 12, 2026.

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In Florida, if a town doesn’t like what you do with your lawn, you could face bankruptcy. Sandy Martinez is stuck with $165,000 in fines for completely harmless code violations, most of it for occasionally parking a car a little bit over her...

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