Local

Judge halts fines against owners of Mount Dora ‘Starry Night'

Mount Dora Mayor Nick Girone is expected to publicly apologize Wednesday to a couple after a years-long legal battle over a “Starry Night” mural.  

LAKE COUNTY, Fla. — An attorney for the Mount Dora family has filed a federal complaint against the city.

A federal judge granted this week a temporary restraining order against the city of Mount Dora in the ongoing saga of the fight over a giant mural.

The order stops Mount Dora from levying fines against the owners of the "Starry Night" house.

Homeowners Nancy Nemhauser and Ludomir Jastrzebski were fined $100 per day, totaling $9,000.

City offiicals said the mural was first classified as graffiti, but later said it's considered a sign, which is a code violation in a residential area. City officials argue a sign violation serves as an advertisement for the artist, despite the artist's name included on the mural.