Man says hoa used drone to spy on his home
In a contentious legal battle spanning 17 years, a Michigan homeowner has become the center of controversy, raising concerns among neighbors and local officials. At the heart of the matter are the number of cars the homeowner keeps on his property, which sparked a legal challenge from the township in 2007. Over the years, the legal dispute has seen twists and turns, with the homeowner prevailing in the initial legal challenge. However, the township revisited its concerns a decade later and took a controversial step to gather evidence. According to court documents, the township hired a drone operator on multiple occasions in 2017 and 2018 to conduct aerial surveillance of the owner’s property, seeking to obtain a bird's-eye view to establish violations. The resident’s legal team argued that the use of drones crossed the line of unreasonable searches, infringing upon the Fourth Amendment rights of privacy. They contend that the vehicles on the property were not visible from the ground, and the drone surveillance constituted an invasion of their privacy. The case has seen varying views from different courts, culminating in a recent 2 to 1 legal defeat for the homeowner in the State's Court of Appeals. In response, they have filed an appeal with the Michigan Supreme Court, which has just announced its decision to take up the case. As the legal battle continues, both sides await the Michigan Supreme Court's decision, which has the potential to shape future discussions on the boundaries of privacy and drone surveillance in the state and beyond.