Lawyer HELP!

I know of a state contractor that had his employees spraying diesel on plants ont he roadside to help maintain the road.. dep put them in jail for many years, and fine dthe company more money than it had ever made since it was in business...

That would be what i would do... You can also find out if her prop taxes are paid.. if not.. look into getting tax deeds.. and do keep filing complaints to make it a matter of permanent record.. eventually the landslide will get them..

Soundguy

Although rare, over the last couple decades I know of twice they've "shotgunned" property (although the first time was several properties in a neighborhood).

"Shotgun" means throwing a bunch of little things at once -- Selectmen (who have some old, odd powers like "fence viewing"), State Police, Zoning Officer, Wetlands Officer, State DEP, Regional Health District, Building Inspector, Fire Marshal, etc all go and conduct an in-person review of the property after getting an administrative warrant for some obvious violation.

Certainly it doesn't solve all problems, but it does help clean up property that the owners had repeatedly failed to deal with hazardous or nuisance conditions.

IIRC a couple of the properties the Town ended up putting liens against after having sent in wrecker companies and the Town Highway crew to clean up the most egregious violations.

Anyway -- I'd have you, your neighbors, and your attorney meet with the Mayor on a "What can we do about this / what other agencies can we bring to play at once" basis.

Just my input.
Dcop

Sorry about your horrible situation. It sounds pretty grim. From my experience I feel that some of the most important advice you've received so far is from John T. Country Lawyer to not do anything that will let the local authorities demonstrate that they really are doing their job by coming after you. Our legal system works very effectively when it is brought against those who play by the rules.

Years ago, a guy I had gone to high school with took matters into his own hands to the not too extreme extent of moving a non-paying renter's goods out of his rented house and changing the lock. What happened for the next year or so would have made a pretty good creepy movie, and not one with a happy ending. My friend lost most of what was important to him (that kind of thing effects your mood quite a bit, and that isn't necessarily good for your marriage---his ended) and, although he didn't lose his mind, he was probably preoccupied with the situation 24/7 while it was going on, and obviously still shaken by it years later.

Don't lose sight of the fact that you're dealing with people who have unlimited time to retaliate if they want to hurt you, and who demonstrate every day (or every night) that they aren't bound by the rules of law, fairness, common decency, or a sense of proportion. Many criminals have ultra sensitive attitudes about their own rights without any corresponding awareness of anyone else's.

You've received a wide range of suggestions about what to do, lots of good advice. Here's some sappy sounding advice that follows the idea that living well is the best revenge: Don't fixate on this situation. It will eventually pass, but you'll never get back the peace of mind you've lost if you let it be all you think about. Love your family and your friends; spend good time with them as if this were not going on. Play with your dog more. Remember that you are a decent, capable, productive, intelligent person. You are respected in your community (this on-line community, among others.) I'll bet you'd rather drop dead than trade any of that for the life that your neighbor is currently leading. A life like that is actually its own punishment; it's just hard to keep that in mind when they seem to be having a great time ruining your night's sleep.

Best of luck, Stan

Keep a detailed timed and dated diary of everything that happens including police calls and police reports and who was called and who responded and what, if anything, was done. You need to develop a detailed written record of all that happens for use as evidence. In addition to police calls start a series (save copies) of written complaints filed with the Township or Health Department or Sheriff or animal control or environmental complaints etc and any governmental authority.

CAUTION AND WARNING. The problem is if you make those types of guys mad they may burn you out for revenge so one must use caution since youre NOT dealing with rational or law abiding persons. Let the "system" of cops n government handle it if possible, dont make yourself the bad guy.

Other agencies that are "politically correct" are environmental or animal control or health boards so report any observed violations to them also and keep records and copies etc.

Use caution

John T Country Lawyer and retired engineer

Of course, if knew anything about phones, could go down to Home Depot and buy a buttset (I see that they carry them), walk on down to the cross box and jump on the pair (line) coming in from the neighbor's house and make a couple of key calls to ... that are going to assassinate ... just before you blowup ..., then hangup and close up the cross box and simply walk back home and sit out on the porch drinking coffee and waiting for the neighbor's house to be surrounded by dark cars and trench coat types kicking in their doors. That'd pretty much put a kabosh on their parties and end their day very, very, very badly.

Mark

Man a bad neighbor is tuff to deal with. Mine was a guy that murdered his parents to collect the money, couple million, served 15yrs, then became my neighbor from heII.

I went the cop route right off the bat. That turned out to be a bad decision as he knew just how far to push the system before crawling back into his hole but I had to learn the system. That's tuff too do if you don't think like that to begin with.

I finally gave up and moved just to have him follow me to the new place 6mths latter. I moved without telling anyone where I was going but he still found us.

Then I had to play dirty. Lucky for me it only took one more time of dealing with him to make him stop but it got very nasty.

Having gone both directions, I wouldn't even consider the legal route again for a one on one, but Mark brings up some very valid points. So much easier to let the legal system work with some good info they just happen to stumble onto.

T_Bone

This boy doesn't need the police he needs an adult mentor.....someone to talk with him and help him get through a very ackward age. While his actions are criminal I not sure that getting him a record at a young age would be a good thing.....

There is no greater gift, than making a difference in a young person's life. On the other hand....the lowest levels of h3ll will certainly hold those who hurt children.

It's very easy to get angry with him.....

You can make a difference, but it won't be overnight..... Have you tried to get to know him?

I had 3 neighbor kids at the barn yesterday.....let them help feed and water the animals..... .I don't try to tell them anything...but, if you listen to them they will listen to you..... This gives me a chance to teach them a few things....about why what there doing is a problem.....or about how you get respect is by respecting other people and there property.....

I know this probably sounds crazy..... but if you can get that boy to stop, and talk to him like he is someone special..... just 15 minutes every few days..... you might just see a small change at first.....but hopefully you can get to him enough to keep him out of jail until he has a chance to get through the "rebel child" stage.

We have enough criminals.....but fewer and fewer gentlemen..... .you have a real opportunity here....