Attorney General James Uthmeier Files Suit to Protect Homeowners’ Right to Political Speech

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Release Date
Jul 16, 2025
Contact
Communications
Phone
(850) 245-0150

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Attorney General James Uthmeier today announced that his office has filed suit in Volusia County on behalf of two homeowners targeted for exercising their constitutional right to political speech on their property.

“Using lawfare to retaliate against political speech is wrong and unlawful,” said Attorney General James Uthmeier. “These homeowners should be free to support President Trump without fear, and we will protect their right to do so.”

According to the complaint, Daryl and Kimberly Ward displayed political signs supporting their preferred candidates on their private property, speech fully protected by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and Article 1, Section 4 of the Florida Constitution. Despite this, their neighbor, Jason McCormick, repeatedly objected to the Wards’ signs, beginning with “Let’s Go Brandon” banners in 2022, and escalated to threats and ultimately a lawsuit. 

Attorney General James Uthmeier asserts that McCormick engaged in a pattern of threats, intimidation, and coercion designed to suppress the Wards’ political speech, including: 

  • Threatening to sue the Wards unless they removed their signs; 
  • Filing a covenant enforcement lawsuit over two buildings on the Wards’ property, only after the Wards refused to take down their signs; 
  • Weaponizing restrictive covenants as retaliation against protected speech; and
  • Ignoring possible covenant issues with other neighbors, singling out the Wards solely because of their political expression.

The lawsuit seeks relief under Section 760.51, Florida Statutes, which prohibits threats, intimidation, or coercion that infringe upon constitutional rights. The Office of the Attorney General will continue to use every tool available under Florida law to safeguard those rights. 

The filed complaint can be viewed here.

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