A**hole neighbors

[munchkin392 1]

I just need to vent. We have an ongoing dispute with the neighbors across the alley. It is a long story, but let me assure you that we have never done anything to them (until when I finally got sick of it after 4 years and told the wife what I thought of her a few months ago...) Now, it's to the point that we cannot even go out in our own alley without getting harrassed by these people. When I flew home from having my surgery, they were in the alley, harrassing us. Tonight, my husband didn't go outside to do snow removal until 11pm in hopes that they would be in bed and would leave him alone. Oh no....that would be way too easy. The next thing I know is a cop is ringing my doorbell. Apparently, my husband was outside shoveling and the a**hole across the street came outside and tried to start a fight with him. My husband immediately just called 911 so things would not escalate any further. This is just ridiculous that we can't even live in our own house without being harrassed. We have contacted a lawyer, but the lawyer doesn't even think he will be able to do any good. Moving is not an option, does anyone have any suggestions?

[lindata 1]

That sounds terrible. I think phoning the police every time something happens, so it's on a legal record, will help. I can't imagine why a lawyer can't do anything if they are harassing you. Phone a different lawyer. Whatever you do, keep a detailed log of everything - the times/dates these things happened, what exactly happened, write down what was said by who, even videotape if you can get it, or tape record conversations. The more detail, the better, if you want to go to court. I used to type court trials as a living, so I know what a judge likes to see - the more detail the better!!! Have everything documented, every little transaction. If you're anticipating an event, like the one tonight, let your husband go out to do his shovelling, and you go behind him with the camcorder. Then you can tell them you're recording them in the event you go to court. That in itself might stop them - just the threat. Do these people rent? If so, complain to their landlord - on a daily basis.

[munchkin392 1]

That is a genius idea to record them!!! I can't believe I didn't think of that! The lawyer did tell us to write a timeline out, and keep documentation of everything that happens, but the video tape idea is genius!! I bet they will think twice if they are being taped. I'm going to carry the camcorder with me everytime I go outside from now on I think. Thanks for the idea!

[munchkin392 1]

And no, they don't rent, they have lived here for 30 years, and think they own the block and the alley. They didn't like that the police didn't bow down to them tonight, so I'm sure more wrath will be coming. (But it will be ok because I will have my trusty camcorder! It might just end up being the best eBay purchase I ever made!) :biggrin1:

[Marimaru 7]

Call the cops every time something comes up. If nothing else, it will build a case for harassment. The lawyer might not be able to do anything for you now, but I imagine that as you stack up calls to the cops, and video tapes, as the case may be, then you'll definitely have something to go after.

Do any of your other neighbors have issues?

[Ang1982 4]

....tape record conversations...

Now this is my uneducated brain here but ... isn't it illegal to tape/voice record someone without their knowlege and consent? Or am I crazy?

[Marimaru 7]

Now this is my uneducated brain here but ... isn't it illegal to tape/voice record someone without their knowlege and consent? Or am I crazy?

I know there is an issue with recording phone calls without telling someone, but I don't know about something that happens just on the street....

[Daisalana 33]

It is illegal to record someone without their knowledge in a lot of states, you'd have to check your state's law.

I can't think of a solution, it's really a crappy situation. My sister had the same thing happening, some a$$hole neighbors always called the cops on them just because they were lesbians and we're in the Bible belt. My sister & her gf had to move due to it.

It's not going to be fun, but the best thing you can do if neither of you are moving soon.. is to bury the hatch. Take her some Cookies and say you want to work things out. Be the bigger woman and try to settle whatever this dispute is. Otherwise, you'll both be miserable till one of you moves.

[Wheetsin 714]

Find out if your state is a "one party" consent state. In these states, only one party has to give their consent to be filmed (there is also such a condition for audio recording). If your state is such a state, and your husband consents...

There is some good base information here, but askings omeone who practices law in your state will be your best approach. CYA always.

One-party consent seems to apply most of the time, otherwise we'd have a lot less undercover investigation, news reports, hidden camera evidence, etc. Parents have been able to submit unauthorized video of abusive nannies as court evidence, stores have submitted their security recordings for theft cases, etc.

[lindata 1]

So Munchkin, been putting any miles on that camcorder? What's going on?