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.

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.

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.