When a sinkhole opened in his Seffner neighborhood, Jeff Allen wasn't quite awake.
Allen says, Hillsborough County Deputies knocked on his door, and ordered him to leave.
Allen says, "They just said that we had to evacuate, it was a sink hole."
Over the weekend, Allen and his family were given just thirty minutes to remove the things most important to them from their home.
Attorney Lorena Ludovici says the government does have the right to order a homeowner out of their own house if there is an immediate threat to life.
Ludovici says homeowners property rights are considered among the most important in the state. In Florida, there are only two instances when a jury panel has to contain twelve members. That's in the case of a capitol murder case, or an eminent domain property case. "That's how important and how protected property rights are.", says Ludovici.
Still she says, the government has the legal authority to protect the public welfare. " It's subjective, you know, who says it can be a half hour, an hour and you know it gets into a fine line of when is government conduct for the protection of the health safety and welfare of the people and when is it crossing that fine line into abusive conduct."
Ludovici says if government oversteps it's authority, " That's the stuff lawsuits are made of."
Thursday, May 23 2013 5:37 PM EDT2013-05-23 21:37:03 GMT
St. Petersburg Police Officers have arrested three people for a home invasion and beating that left a 63-year-old woman in critical condition on Wednesday morning.
St. Petersburg Police Officers have arrested three people for a home invasion and beating that left a 63-year-old woman in critical condition on Wednesday morning.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 5:53 PM EDT2013-05-21 21:53:22 GMT
The state admits it dropped the ball, but 51 year old Wes Diebold lost his license over a 2 dollar mistake.
Looking for a job is tough enough these days but how much tougher does having a suspended driver's license make things? 51 year old Wes Diebold doesn't know for sure if his suspended license was a roadblock.
Looking for a job is tough enough these days but how much tougher does having a suspended driver's license make things? 51 year old Wes Diebold doesn't know for sure if his suspended license was a roadblock.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 2:30 PM EDT2013-05-21 18:30:01 GMT
The Obridge Academy is a virtual school with a virtual Florida headquarters and a virtual track record of performance. But under new legislation awaiting the signature of Governor Rick Scott it could
The Obridge Academy is a virtual school with a virtual Florida headquarters and a virtual track record of performance.
Monday, May 20 2013 5:56 PM EDT2013-05-20 21:56:22 GMT
The weather is getting warm in the bay area and pest control experts say it's bringing out dry wood termites. "The phones are ringing off the hook now because the termites are swarming," said exterminator
The weather is getting warm in the bay area and pest control experts say it's bringing out dry wood termites. "The phones are ringing off the hook now because the termites are swarming," said exterminator
Friday, May 17 2013 7:36 AM EDT2013-05-17 11:36:31 GMT
As the news of Angelina Jolie brings awareness to the fight against breast cancer there is a major medical breakthrough thanks to a nationwide study with the largest number of participants at USF.
As the news of Angelina Jolie brings awareness to the fight against breast cancer there is a major medical breakthrough thanks to a nationwide study with the largest number of participants at USF.
Friday, May 17 2013 5:00 AM EDT2013-05-17 09:00:46 GMT
Teacher supplies can be very expensive. Ask any teacher they will tell you it's true. A couple of local educators are doing their best to help cut the cost for the tools teachers use in the classroom. Adrianne
Teacher supplies can be very expensive. Ask any teacher they will tell you it's true. A couple of local educators are doing their best to help cut the cost for the tools teachers use in the classroom. Adrianne
Thursday, May 23 2013 12:29 PM EDT2013-05-23 16:29:23 GMT
Kmart has launched the latest in what appears to be an edgy string of commercials. In April, one of its commercial went viral for a play on words. Explaining the ease of shipping a product to a customer
Kmart has launched the latest in what appears to be an edgy string of commercials. In April, one of its commercial went viral for a play on words. Explaining the ease of shipping a product to a customer
Thursday, May 23 2013 1:12 PM EDT2013-05-23 17:12:48 GMT
The man who famously put down his Big Mac to help rescue three women held captive for a decade in an Ohio house will never have to pay for another burger in his hometown.
The man who famously put down his Big Mac to help rescue three women held captive for a decade in an Ohio house will never have to pay for another burger in his hometown.
Thursday, May 23 2013 5:31 PM EDT2013-05-23 21:31:38 GMT
Federal forecasters are predicting yet another busy hurricane season. Thursday's outlook calls for 13 to 20 named storms, 7 to 11 that strengthen into hurricanes and 3 to 6 that become major hurricanes. The
Federal forecasters are predicting yet another busy hurricane season. Thursday's outlook calls for 13 to 20 named storms, 7 to 11 that strengthen into hurricanes and 3 to 6 that become major hurricanes. The
Leigh Spann joined WFLA in September, 2007. You can catch her forecasts every weekday morning starting at 4:30am. Since so many people ask, she says she wakes up at 2am and goes to bed at 7pm!
Leigh Spann joined WFLA in September, 2007. You can catch her forecasts every weekday morning starting at 4:30am. Since so many people ask, she says she wakes up at 2am and goes to bed at 7pm!
