Backstreet Boys singer Brian Littrell is currently engaged in a legal conflict concerning the beach adjacent to his Santa Rosa Beach home in Florida. The dispute involves allegations of repeated trespassing, harassment, and unauthorized filming by a neighboring resident. Legal documents filed on September 19 detail multiple instances of trespassing by 67-year-old Carolyn Barrington Hill from April through September, despite clear demarcation signs and personal property boundaries set by Littrell.
The $3.8 million property, owned by Littrell, 50, under BLB Beach Hut, LLC, was marked with several "No Trespassing" signs, along with chairs, umbrellas, and small tables to delineate the private area. However, according to the lawsuit, Hill has disregarded these markers. She described herself as "semi-retired" and "on Medicare" in court filings, and has been accused of cursing at Littrell's property manager and setting up beach furniture on Littrell's land without permission.
Tensions escalated to the point where the Walton County Sheriff's Officer had to remove Hill from the property during a confrontation on May 4. The Littrell family has expressed that Hill's actions have caused them emotional distress and have interfered with their enjoyment of their private beach, prompting them to hire security.
Peter Ticktin, Littrell's attorney, conveyed that his client felt he had found a peaceful private haven upon purchasing the beach home. However, the situation deteriorated after a court ruling confirmed the Littrells' ownership of the beachfront boundaries, which seemingly led to more aggressive behavior from Hill. She has contested the ownership, claiming beachfront homeowners are "stealing" public land, while Ticktin maintains that the property was purchased legally.
Hill has filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit, questioning the sufficiency of the claims. A hearing regarding this motion is scheduled for December 11. The case highlights the complexities of Florida's beach property laws, which state that while the sand below the high tide line is public, the dry sand above can be privately owned.
Earlier this year, Littrell also filed a lawsuit against the Walton County Sheriff's Office, alleging insufficient enforcement against trespassers on his privately owned beachfront. The dispute has garnered online attention, with locals accusing Littrell's property manager of aggressive behavior during confrontations over the beach. The Instagram account Shoreline Defender and a tweet from the New York Post have brought the issue to a wider audience.
