Holmes County

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and American Center for Law & Justice (ACLJ) served a complaint against Holmes County. In 2006, Daniel Stone purchased a parcel of land in Holmes County. Kenzi Harris owns the property next to it.

The dispute between the two neighbors began when Mr. Stone's fiance, Ms. Hagan, filed a complaint stating that Mr. Majors, a person visiting Mr. Harris' home, was driving at high speed on the easement and endangering her children who were outside.

Mr. Harris is a personal friend of Holmes County Commissioner Jim King. A short time after the disagreement, the Holmes County Road Department began grading the easement. It is stated in the complaint that the grading was done as a personal favor to Mr. Harris.
http://www.aclufl.org/pdfs/StoneVHolmesCounty.pdf

The original width of the easement was approximately 12 feet. The County had increased it to 40 feet. Trees and bushes had been removed. County employees had driven through Mr. Stone's yard, crushing the septic tank field lines and a tricycle.

The complaint states that Holmes County did not formally exercise the power of eminent domain and that Mr. Stone had not been compensated for the land. Their actions constitute an unlawful taking of a portion of this property by inverse condemnation.