FLORIDA CITY BATTLES TO END ‘EXTREME’ LIGHTS DISPLAY LIGHTS OUT
There’s nothing quite like the magic of twinkling Christmas lights. But for city officials in Plantation, Florida, Christmas lights are a stark reminder of a prolonged fight, nearly $500,000 in court fees, and continued drama. In 2014, Plantation sued residents Mark and Kathy Hyatt for their “Hyatt Extreme Christmas” lights display, claiming it was a “public nuisance.” Each year, the Hyatts decorated their yard with more than 200,000 lights, snow, a Christmas tree, a Nativity scene, a functioning Ferris wheel, and more. Their creation was featured on two nationally televised programs and attracted flocks of visitors. But, for the Hyatt’s neighbors, extreme didn’t even begin to explain the chaos. Neighbors complained to the city about increased traffic, litter in their yards, and potential injury or death to pedestrians due to the traffic. Police officers in Plantation were dispatched to the light display multiple times each season for complaints by neighbors, accidents, and traffic control. After a two-year battle in court, a judge ruled in favor of the Hyatts, claiming the city could not prove the display was dangerous or a nuisance. The city had spent nearly half a million dollars fighting their case. For the Hyatts, Christmas 2016 was a celebration, though their display was restrained due to the timing of the court’s decision. By 2017, “Hyatt Extreme Christmas” was in full swing again, much to their neighbors’ chagrin. Mark
Hyatt rode the wave of support for his display all the way to a vacant seat on the Plantation City Council in 2016, but the highs would soon stop there. Plantation news outlets reported in 2018 that Mark Hyatt filed for divorce, effectively ending any hope of another “Hyatt Extreme Christmas.” As the snow has settled, an extravagant lights display has instead become a story of nasty court battles with a sad ending for the Hyatts and their “extreme” Christmas devotees.
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At Frye Law Group, we do everything in our power to make your defense as strong as it can be. Effective outcomes are the result of great teamwork, so here are some things you should strive to do when working in tandem with your lawyers. SHARE ALL INFORMATION Share all relevant information. If you’re not sure if something is relevant, it still doesn’t hurt to share it and let your lawyer make that deduction. If new information arises as the case progresses, let your council know right away. Sharing your schedule is important too. Your presence is often needed at meetings or court dates that are scheduled long in advance, so being clear about your availability keeps the case moving at a reasonable pace.
than they will. So, if needed, offer to provide them yourself. Also, remember that lawyers are trained to make decisions in the best interest of their clients, so trust their opinions, and be open to their suggestions. PRACTICE HONEST COMMUNICATION If there’s something you’re embarrassed, ashamed, or scared about, it’s still important to let your lawyer know about it. The consequences of not knowing could lead to much more severe emotional distress for you. Likewise, you should expect your lawyers to be open and honest with you, so ask for explanations when you don’t understand something because they want you to be confident when making decisions.
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