Being Sued and Harassed by Neighbor

[samiamscott]

We recently turned in our neighbors for illegally building barns and enclosures for animals without a permit. They build them right next to our property line and our house, even though there are mandatory set backs (100 feet or 50 feet, depending). The county fined them and had them remove their buildings, which cost them about $150,000. Since we turned them in, they have been hitting us with frivolous law suits, including a request to be reimbursed $400,000 for trimming their tree branches that were hanging over our house and blocking our drive.

They've already tried to sue us for other things, but we were able to show proof without an attorney. This is can get expensive, and we are not wealthy people.

What can we do? Do we get a real estate attorney or do we hire another type of attorney, and what are our rights?

 

[dee_dub]

You might have the right to go to court and apply to have them declared a "vexatious litigant" or the equivalent in your jurisdiction. If you succeed, they won't be able to take any further legal action against you without the leave of the court.