Lake Okeechobee News
January 21, 2026
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE TWENTIETH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT
IN AND FOR
HENDRY COUNTY, FLORIDA
CASE NO.: 262025CA000644
MURPHY'S LANDING COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT, a local unit
of special-purpose government organized
and existing under Chapter 190,
Florida Statutes,
Plaintiff,
v.
THE STATE OF FLORIDA, AND THE TAXPAYERS, PROPERTY OWNERS AND CITIZENS OF MURPHY'S LANDING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT, INCLUDING NON-RESIDENTS OWNING PROPERTY OR SUBJECT TO TAXATION THEREIN, AND OTHERS HAVING OR CLAIMING ANY RIGHT, TITLE OR INTEREST IN PROPERTY TO BE AFFECTED BY THE ISSUANCE OF THE BONDS AND LEVY
OF ASSESSMENTS HEREIN DESCRIBED, OR TO BE AFFECTED IN ANY WAY THEREBY,
Defendants.
NOTICE AND AGREED ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE
TO THE STATE OF FLORIDA, AND THE TAXPAYERS, PROPERTY OWNERS AND CITIZENS OF MURPHYS LANDING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT, INCLUDING NON-RESIDENTS OWNING PROPERTY OR SUBJECT TO TAXATION THEREIN, AND OTHERS HAVING OR CLAIMING ANY RIGHT, TITLE OR INTEREST IN PROPERTY TO BE AFFECTED BY THE ISSUANCE OF MURPHYS LANDING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT SPECIAL ASSESSMENT REVENUE BONDS, OR TO BE AFFECTED THEREBY:
The above cause comes to be heard upon the Complaint filed herein on December 1, 2025, by Murphys Landing Community Development District, a local unit of special-purpose government established pursuant to Chapter 190, Florida Statutes, in the County of Hendry, State of Florida, seeking to determine the authority of said District to issue Murphys Landing Community Development District Special Assessment Revenue Bonds in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $80,000,000 (Bonds), to determine the legality of the proceedings had and taken in connection therewith, and the legality of the provisions, covenants and agreements therein contained, and seeking a judgment of this Court that: (a) the District has the power and authority under Chapter 190, Florida Statutes, and other applicable law to undertake the Capital Improvement Plan, to issue the Bonds and all series thereof and to incur the bonded debt as set forth in the Complaint, and to secure the Bonds with the Assessments; (b) the proceedings essential to the authorization and issuance of the Bonds and all series thereof when issued pursuant thereto; the Pledged Revenues, including, without limitation, the Assessments pledged for the payment of the principal thereof, redemption premium, if any, and interest thereon; and the Bond Resolution are valid and in conformity with law; (c) the Assessments are supported by sufficient benefit, do not exceed the benefit received by the assessed properties, and are fairly and reasonably allocated across all benefitted properties in accordance with Chapter 170, Florida Statutes, and other applicable law; (d) upon due issuance of the Bonds in conformance with the Bond Resolution and the Indenture, the Bonds will constitute valid and binding special obligations of the District payable solely from and secured by the Pledged Revenues and will be enforceable by their terms as established by the Bond Resolution and the Indenture; (e) the District has the power to plan, finance, acquire, construct, reconstruct, equip and install, in one or more stages, the Capital Improvement Plan; (f) the Capital Improvement Plan will serve a proper, essential and valid public purpose; (g) the members of the Districts Board of Supervisors have been duly and validly elected or appointed in accordance with Chapter 190, Florida Statutes; and (h) this Court may grant such other relief as is just and appropriate. The aforesaid Complaint having been presented to this Court pursuant to Chapter 75, Florida Statutes, and Section 190.016(9), Florida Statutes, and this Court being fully advised in the premises and having jurisdiction over the subject matter and the parties:
NOW, THEREFORE,
IT IS ORDERED that all taxpayers, property owners, and citizens of the District, including non-residents owning property or subject to taxation, and others having or claiming any right, title or interest in property to be affected by the issuance of the Bonds or to be affected thereby and the State of Florida, through the State Attorney of the Twentieth Judicial Circuit, in and for Hendry County, Florida, are hereby required to appear on February 23, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. in Courtroom 3, Third Floor, Hendry County Courthouse, 25 E. Hickpochee Ave., LaBelle, Florida 33936 before the Honorable Darrell R. Hill, Circuit Court Judge, to show cause, if any there be, why the prayers of said Complaint for the validation of the Bonds and the Assessments should not be granted and the Bonds, the Assessments, the proceedings therefor, and other matters set forth in said Complaint, should not be validated as prayed for in said Complaint.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that prior to the date set for the hearing on said Complaint for validation, the Clerk of this Court shall cause a copy of this Notice and Order to Show Cause to be published in a newspaper of general circulation published in Hendry County, Florida, being the County wherein said Complaint for validation is filed, at least once each week for two (2) consecutive weeks, with the first publication to occur not less than twenty (20) days prior to the date set for said hearing, all in accordance with the requirements of Section 75.06, Florida Statutes.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that by such publication of this Notice and Order, the State of Florida, and the several taxpayers, property owners and citizens of the District, including non-residents owning property or subject to taxation therein, and others having or claiming any rights, title or interest in property to be affected by the issuance of the Bonds or to be affected thereby, shall be and are made party defendants to this proceeding, and that this Court shall have jurisdiction of them to the same extent as if specifically and personally named as defendants in said Complaint and personally served with process in this cause.
DONE AND ORDERED in Hendry County, Florida.
/s/ Darrell R. Hill
Darrell R. Hill Circuit Court Judge
25000644CAAXMX
January 8, 2026 10:26:45
Electronic Service List
Abraham R Thornburg <athornburg@,ao20.org>
Jennifer L. Kilinski <jennifer@cddlawyers.com>, <cyndi@cddlawyers.com>
Patrick Collins <patrick@cddlawyers.com>
Amy Hembree <amy@cddlawyers.com>
Amira D. Fox, State Attorney <afox@sao20.org>
Bradley P. Wright <bwright@sao20.org>
36460 HEND 1/21,28/2026
Miscellaneous Notices