That just can’t be right.
Brian Littrell, the Backstreet Boys member, won’t be able to claim emotional damage against a retiree in Florida for using the beach near his mansion, according to a judge’s ruling made on Tuesday.
Littrell, who is 50, has been involved in a persistent legal disagreement with Carolyn Barrington Hill, 67. He alleges she has intruded on his privacy by walking on the dry sand outside his Santa Rosa beachfront home.
Hill argues that under Florida’s access laws, the beach in front of Littrell’s house is public and accessible to anyone.
Walton County Circuit Court Judge Jonathan Schlechter dismissed Littrell’s lawsuit against Hill, noting he couldn’t pursue emotional damages for a trespass claim.
The judge’s decision was based on legal grounds and granted Littrell 20 days to amend his complaint against Hill.
Additionally, the judge pointed out that Littrell had not shown evidence that Hill was on a part of the property where he could reasonably expect privacy.
Hill’s attorney, Heidi Mehaffey, commended the judge for recognizing the flaws in Littrell’s case.
“The Florida Constitution protects Mr. Hill’s right to access the beaches he has enjoyed for years,” Mehaffey said. “Ms. Hill will continue to advocate for everyone’s right to use Walton County’s beaches without fear of legal repercussions.”
On the other hand, Littrell’s lawyer, Peter Ticktin, considered the ruling fairly standard.
“We plan to file an amended complaint as the court instructed,” Ticktin mentioned. “This is just a typical procedure in these cases.”
In September, Littrell and his wife, Regan, had filed the lawsuit after acquiring their oceanfront home, which is 1,574 square feet with three bedrooms and four bathrooms.
He claimed that, per Florida law, access to public beaches is limited to the high tide line behind private residences.
However, Hill, who describes herself as “semi-retired” and on Medicare, allegedly ignored Littrell’s claims and even recorded him without authorization, as stated in his lawsuit.
Littrell believes that Hill’s actions are part of a broader effort by local advocates to alter the rules regarding private beach use. He even mentioned needing to hire security to safeguard his family from unforeseen beachgoers and alleged an incident where he had to involve the police to remove Hill last May.
“My clients just want to use the beach peacefully,” Littrell’s attorney argued during a court session in December. “They feel harassed by various groups daily.”
In response, Mehaffey indicated that there was no proof Hill had crossed the high-water line and referred to Littrell’s case as “too vague.”
In a video from 2023, Littrell was seen asking sunbathers to relocate to the water’s edge while holding a “No Trespassing” sign, as his wife engaged in a verbal spat with a man who insisted he wouldn’t move.
