[SuzieM]

My next door neighbor has a contractor that has been a problem for a long time. My husband and I have complained about his constant disregard for City Ordinances (working late, blocking the street, illegal parking, leaving construction materials on our property), so he has become very nasty to both me. He has followed behind me with his pickup truck when I am walking, toots his horn at me when I am riding my bike: all this is very provocative and frankly scarey, because I am always alone when he does this. Recently he has started glaring at me & told the police that I tried to kill a dog & that I tried to kill him. I have avoided this man completely, do not engage with him. Before he worked next door, I emailed the owner and requested that he ask him to stay away from me and my property, that I don't want any conflict. I spoke with the police as soon as he started harassing me about the dog.
I am feeling that he is psychologically unbalanced, but the police don't seem to care.
What should I do? I just learned that he is going to be working next door on the other side of my house.

[AK lawyer]

Do your part to fight unemployment: hire a bodyguard.

[JudyKayTee]

Document with dates/times and file for a restraining order.

[SuzieM]

Thank you. How and where do I file for a restraining order? What documentation is required?

Second, it's clear to me that my new "neighbor" (who is a hothead) is colluding with this contractor to get me to move-I've lived here for 20 years. And they've got lots of "unpermitted" work they would love to get started on. They are trying everything to be annoying and disturbing. My friend told me to write a detailed letter and document all the issues, so it is in writing and send it to the owner & the contractor by registered mail. My husband thinks there is no point to a letter.
Suggestions? Advice?

[JudyKayTee]

I agree with your husband - the letter could be seen as a threat and even if it isn't, why let the neighbor in on whatever it is you are planning - ?

I would go with a protective order if you are concerned about your personal safety. Tell them whatever you think is going on and see how fast they retaliate.

You go to your local Court and explain that you want a protective order. Take proof (whatever that is) of that is of the harassment AND that includes Police Reports whether the Police acted on the complaints or not.

Save your evidence for the hearing.

[SuzieM]

Good advice... my husband will be happy to hear this-protective order will be good for personal safety. What about cops that don't enforce local laws: just keep documenting and then present the evidence? I have found that just taking pictures gives them pause.
In terms of common sense advice, what would you recommend to counter the obvious effort of being as provocative as possible, to get me to move? Just put up with it?

[JudyKayTee]

I've posted this before. I had the neighbors from H*ll. They terrorized the entire neighborhood with just all sorts of crazy antics. I retained an Attorney. He wrote a letter; they kept on keeping on; another neighbor retained an Attorney; they kept on keeping on. Eventually both of us sued them for destroying the quiet enjoyment of our property.

They moved right after their homeowners insurance dropped them and they couldn't get coverage.

Their son was a big kid, in his teens, big foul mouth. Nobody took him terribly serious. About 18 months after they moved he was arrested for a series of rapes and found guilty. Just a side note. Sometimes families are as nutty as they seem.

Anyway - The Police Reports demonstrate that there are problems and you're tried to solve them but the Police, for whatever reason, either can't or won't. It's not like you're walking in out of the blue and asking for an order.

[AK lawyer]

Good advice...my husband will be happy to hear this-protective order will be good for personal safety. What about cops that don't enforce local laws: just keep documenting and then present the evidence? I have found that just taking pictures gives them pause.
In terms of common sense advice, what would you recommend to counter the obvious effort of being as provocative as possible, to get me to move? Just put up with it?

It is a mistake to assume that a protective order will make you safer. If, for example, someone were to kill you, you would be equally dead, whether a protective order was in place.

And I don't know that, on the basis of the information you have given us, you qualify for a protective order anyway. You have said that:

• "He has followed behind me with his pickup truck when I am walking,"
• He "toots his horn at me when I am riding my bike"
• "Recently he has started glaring at me"

I'm sorry, but this isn't enough for a PO, in my opinion. When he follows your bike, did he slow down to bike-speed, or was he simply traveling in the same direction? Has he, verbally or otherwise, threatened you?

[SuzieM]

No he is much smarter than that-just accused me verbally of trying to kill a dog, then went to the police & said the same thing. They requestsed my version and now it appears they've just dropped the whole thing. Still I would appreciate some common sense advice about these neighbors: I won't win any popularity contests in my upscale uptight community, but we don't break laws, are respectful of our neighbors, and are just looking for peace & quiet.

But I know its common to have people try to make you move: just looking for some advice about how to handle & push back the bullies if possible...

[SuzieM]

I'm realizing there may be nothing I can do to stop this bullying. It's not uncommon to people to feel entitled enough to make someone so miserable, that they will move-apparently it happens all the time here. So any advice or suggestion would be possible to stand up to the bullying, without getting in trouble myself.
Thanks so much.

[SuzieM]

It's a little different here... I'm the victim, not the perpetrator and I don't think my neighbors would lift a finger to help me. I'm getting bullied by this new neighbor and his psycho-contractor. I feel the police and the city are colluding with all of this: this small enclave depends on construction revenue and apparently really like this contractor, of course, he's all sweetness and light with them. Very different to me: likely a Town & Down phenomena. But clearly he's contrived a plan to keep me from interfering with the way he likes to work: noisy, dirty, and at all hours.

[JudyKayTee]

I see two choices - put up with it; do something to stop it.

If you are being harassed, report the behavior to the Police. Or get an Attorney and get advice based entirely on your area, the laws, the complete story.

I agree with AK lawyer in that you are just as dead with or without a protective order. However, I don't think this neighbor is out to kill you (or at least I hope so) and maybe a letter from an Attorney will stop the nonsense.

I'm a liability investigator. I occasionally get called in on similar matters. I interview other neighbors, former neighbors, business acquaintances, and get an idea what the person is about. The Attorney (who hires me) then decides how to proceed.

You can only be bullied if you allow yourself to be bullied. It's one thing if you're on your bike, he's a distance away, he blows his horn. It's quite another if he's right behind you, blows his horn and startles you.

You have to decide how bad it is, how bad it can get, what you can and cannot ignore. I'm not suggesting that you go in either direction. I am suggesting that Summer is coming and it could be brutal with your neighbor and his friends running around loose.