The elderly couple HOA lien flower beds case went viral after I was the first reporter to expose how an HOA threatened the Texas couple’s home over their landscaping.

In 2019, I reported on retired math teacher Klaas Tadema and his wife Dorothy, a former nurse in Dickinson, Texas, after their homeowners association threatened them with a $100,000 lien over their flower beds. The story went viral, drawing national attention to what many saw as an overreach of HOA power.

Elderly Couple HOA Lien Over Flower Beds Sparks National Outrage

Following widespread media coverage and public pressure, the HOA released the lien, allowing the couple to sell their home and move forward with their lives. But months later, tragedy struck when Dorothy passed away after ongoing health complications.

This is the full story — and the update few people know.

National Attention Forces the HOA to Back Down

After weathering many storms over their 52 years of marriage including losing a home during Hurricane Harvey, Klaas & Dorothy Tadema never imagined flower beds could force them to potentially lose everything again including their health. Click on link below to view full story.

How a Flower Bed Sparked a $100,000 HOA Lien

Editor’s Note (2026 Update):

This story was originally broken by Tammy Rose on ChopperRose.com in 2019. After the investigation went viral, multiple national outlets followed with their own coverage. The public pressure generated by this reporting directly contributed to the HOA reversing its decision and releasing the lien.