Brief Summary
Brian Littrell, a member of the Backstreet Boys, has taken legal action against the Walton County Sheriff's Office in Florida, accusing them of neglecting to remove trespassers from his beachfront property. Littrell's company, BLB Beach Hut LLC, filed a petition requesting a judge to mandate the sheriff's office to enforce trespassing laws. Despite Littrell's efforts to mark his property and deter trespassers, beachgoers continue to intrude, leading to property damage and harassment. The core of the dispute centers on the boundary between public beach access and private property rights, with Littrell seeking the peaceful enjoyment of his property.
- Littrell's company, BLB Beach Hut LLC, has sued the Walton County Sheriff's Office for failing to remove trespassers from his beachfront property.
- Littrell claims that beachgoers are constantly trespassing, harassing his family, and damaging his property.
- The lawsuit requests a judge to order the sheriff's office to enforce trespassing laws.
[Brian Littrell Files Lawsuit Against Florida Sheriff's Office]
Brian Littrell, a singer from the Backstreet Boys, has filed court documents against a Florida sheriff's office, alleging their failure to remove beachgoers trespassing on his oceanfront property. Littrell's company, BLB Beach Hut LLC, has requested a writ of mandamus, a legal action seeking a judge's order for the Walton County Sheriff’s Office to take action against the trespassers.
[Efforts to Deter Trespassers]
Littrell has attempted to prevent people from entering his property by installing "no trespassing" signs and using chairs, small tables, and umbrellas to mark the property line. However, these measures have been ineffective, as beachgoers persist in trespassing, harassing, and bullying the Littrell family on a daily basis.
[Legal Basis and Property Ownership]
Under Florida law, the sand below the high tide water mark is public, while oceanfront homeowners own the sand down to the average high-water line. Littrell purchased his Santa Rosa Beach home in 2023 for $3.8 million. The petition highlights instances where trespassers allegedly damaged his property after being asked to leave by the company's staff.
[Sheriff's Office Response and Private Security]
The sheriff's office has been called to Littrell's property multiple times due to trespassers but has allegedly "refused to come to the subject property to enforce the law and remove the trespassers, to charge the trespassers, or to take any action, at all, thereby refusing to do their duty." This inaction has forced the family to hire private security.
[Littrell's Plea and Legal Stance]
Littrell's attorney, Peter Ticktin, stated that the family seeks the peaceful enjoyment of their property and accuses the sheriff's department of enabling trespassers by not enforcing the law. Littrell clarified that he is not seeking criminal charges unless trespassers defy the sheriff's orders, emphasizing the desire to reclaim their property without harming anyone.
[Sheriff's Office Statement]
The Walton County Sheriff’s Office stated that it cannot comment on pending litigation but prides itself on handling every situation with professionalism and a customer service approach, which remains its ongoing philosophy.
