This is the sign that is costing the Russells over $7,300

In a recent verdict, a North Texas couple located in Parker County found out just how much their Constitutional Rights to Freedom of Speech could cost them after posting a sign simply stating, “WAKE UP AMERICA – Defend Your Liberties” which promotes Glenn Beck’s wake up America project. All of a sudden this sign became an issue after the sign had already been in place for nearly three years.

During a phone conversation with Clara Russell, she told me that she had purchased the sign after attending a Fort Worth, Texas 912 Project Rally. She was so inspired by the gathering, the quality of people, and the message, she felt she needed to do her part and purchased the sign. That was the beginning of this story that has taken a surprise turn for Clara and her husband Johnnie, but far from the end with the recent verdict passed down from a recently elected Justice of the Piece, Judge Lynn Marie Johnson of Pct. 4, having found in the favor of the Remuda Ranch Estates Homeowners Association who had filed a lawsuit against the Russells for breaking the rules of the HOA. The costs to the couple? A whopping $7,323.00 for posting a simple non-political sign while others in the community, including the President of the HOA, had signs in their yards.

Judgement against the Russells by Judge Marie Lynn Johnson Pct. 4

In an email from Clara, detailing what had transpired, she tells me,

“My husband Johnnie and I moved out of the City into the Country for some space and a seemingly quiet lifestyle. In our request to our Realtor, there was a short lists of deal breakers. Obviously, cost was number one. The second item was we wanted a place with NO HOA! (we executed a contract with the builder, and it is CLEARLY MARKED NO HOA)”

 

which is quite clear in the Russell’s sales contract as seen below…

Click on the image to see for yourself

Initially I told Clara that I most likely would not have the time to do a story on her case until she began providing some details about the Judge and had told me how she had found out that Judge Lynn Marie Johnson had been previously registered as a Democrat and only recently joined the GOP in order to get elected in a largely conservative area (I along with others are still working to try and verify this statement). Mrs. Russell also explained how the judge had come back from a lunch break with pages in a book already marked prior to the end of the trial or final statements had been given as if Judge Johnson had already reached a verdict on her case. I can assure you that both of these comments were quick to catch my attention at which time I told Clara I would make time to get her story out since I have personally taken a strong stance against activist judges because they are the ones who are tearing down the pillars of our U.S. Constitution (See: Judgeless in Iowa: Making Sense of Tuesday’s Judicial Ouster).  As of the last update from Clara, there are many others who are not taken this issue lying down, either.

What have others said about the Russell lawsuit?

Fox News of Dallas-Forth Worth Reports: Homeowners Sued for Political Sign

WFAA of Dallas-Forth Worth Reports: North Texas couple ordered to pay $7,200 for yard sign

Bud Kennedy reported in the Star-Telegram: Free Speech not cheap in Parker County neighborhood

Mr. Kennedy’s story (linked above) was the most thorough to date, but Bud did fall short when he stated, “…a Tea Party-like group…”. Please see the following link for a better understanding of the 912 Project 9 Principles and 12 Values of the 912 Project or visit the National 912 Project to read their about page for details.

Interesting enough, this is not the first time this particular Homeowners Association has made the news for lawsuits against it’s residents or taking a stance against citizen’s Constitutional Rights – Gun enthusiast not a fan of new ordinance.

Update: Corrections made to Judge’s name.

Update (11-21-2011 7:47 am cst): The Blaze has now picked up this story – TX Homeowner Fined $7,000 for Displaying Sign Associated With Glenn Beck

Update (11-21-2011 8:25 am cst): The Russells will be meeting with a real estate attorney this morning, who is very interested in their case, with a focus of getting this case moved to a different court for fear that the couple will not receive a fair trial in the current court.

Update (11-21-2011 12:15 pm cst): The Blaze has updated the story (seen in previous update above) with exciting new details that Mrs. Russell had uncovered last night and additional details on the case that I had not yet published. More news and updates to come late tonight.

Update (11-22-2011): There have been too many updates so I’ve added a new up-to-date story with additional details of a possible conflict of interest that were previously left out of the this story. Click this story for more: Conflict of Interest Causing an Uprising in Parker County, Texas over Homeowners being Sued

UPDATED (11-26-2011):

I have also received word of a defense fund being set up for the Russells to assist with their legal fees:

Clara Russell Defense Fund
PO Box 150471
Ft. Worth Texas 76108

There are also requests asking who to contact in order to file complaints:

District Attorney’s Office:
Don Schnelby
117 Fort Worth Hwy
Weatherford, TX 76086
(817) 598-6124

Other Chapters in this ongoing story:

1.     This story: Activist Judge Rules Against Freedom of Speech in North Texas! (update #5 7-22-2011)
2.     Conflict of Interest Causing an Uprising in Parker County, Texas over Homeowners being Sued (Update #1)
3.     The Conflicts of Interest Keep Getting More Interesting when in Parker County, Texas
4.     Clara Russell Makes it onto Glenn Beck and Doug Giles to Tell Her Story
5.     Taking a Better Look into Conflicts of Interest in Parker County, Texas Regarding Russell Case