Florida Floating Home Owner Loses in Court

A South Florida man who two years ago won a U.S. Supreme Court case over the difference between a floating home and a vessel has lost a legal battle against the city of Riviera Beach.

A federal jury last week sided with the city, rejecting Fane Lozman’s claims that the city seized and destroyed his floating home in retaliation for his frequent comments at city meetings in violation of free speech rights.

Lozman had hoped to be repaid for the value of his home.

The Supreme Court decision essentially found that Riviera Beach wrongly seized the structure using U.S. maritime law because not everything that floats can be considered a vessel.

Lozman says he intends to appeal once again.