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Homeowners Association Takes a Family to Court Over Purple Swing Set
In a rather bizarre turn of events, a homeowners association in Missouri has threatened a family with legal action and even “jail time” if they didn’t remove the purple swing set from their backyard. Who knew HOAs were moonlighting as law enforcement? Spoiler alert: they’re not! Thankfully, a judge dismissed their ludicrous lawsuit.
The Thompson family received a stern letter from their HOA stating that the swing set they built for their kids didn’t meet approval. Like many parents, they let their daughters pick the color, and they went with purple. They checked the HOA guidelines, which didn’t specify color restrictions, only stating that structures should be “in harmony” with the neighborhood. Considering the area has purple flowering trees, the family figured they were in the clear.
Not quite. The HOA sent a threatening letter demanding the removal of the swing set, warning that non-compliance could result in a court injunction, daily fines, or even jail time. The family requested a list of approved colors, which the HOA refused to provide. Standing their ground, Mr. Thompson shared, “We wanted to teach our kids that you don’t just back down to bullies.” They believed their swing set complied with the rules and saw no reason to change it.
In a dramatic twist, the HOA hired a lawyer who sent a message warning of severe consequences if the swing set was not removed. The whole situation seemed absurd, all over a swing set. Initially, the family even offered to paint it gray, but the HOA remained unyielding, choosing to pursue a lengthy and pointless lawsuit. Fortunately, a judge saw through the nonsense and dismissed the case.
This situation serves as a reminder that while HOAs can play a helpful role in maintaining neighborhood standards—like preventing unsightly trash piles or unwanted rental properties—overreaching on matters like swing set colors is simply ridiculous, especially when neighbors had no issues with it. Maybe it’s time for the board members to find a new hobby!
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In summary, the Thompson family stood their ground against an unreasonable HOA, teaching their children a valuable lesson about standing up to bullies. Thankfully, reason prevailed when a judge dismissed the lawsuit, allowing them to keep their purple swing set.