Slander and Abuse by Neighbor

**Rph** · 07-31-2012, 01:31 AM

My question involves defamation in the state of: Washington

My question involves defamation in the state of: Washington

The other day I was leaving my house & noticed my neighbors 17yr old daughter & friend glaring at me through their bathroom window (which is directly opposir my porch), they were annoyed by my kids who were making a minor nuisance. Taken aback by the glaring I asked what the problem was. The daughter asked why I kept staring at their house. I replied that the window was directly in my line of sight & suggested she close the blind. Her mother appeared & began a tirade of abuse, insults & allegations (witnessed by my sons aged 9 & 7, as well as her daughter & friend, plus her 14yr old son & her father). She suggested I had lewd motives in "staring" at her daughter & told me to "shut your eyes, shut your mouth & turn your butt around"; she also accused me of always picking on her son and informed me that I was a "very scary man", "weird" had "serious problems" & that all of this was well known in the neighborhood. She then claimed that I was "on drugs" then conversely that "I ought to be medicated", her father then piped up "you're a piece of work, get back on your meds". I replied that I wasn't on any meds but that I was a pharmacist. The woman then infered that that was where I obtained all the drugs I was abusing (through theft from my workplace). I said that I looked forward to discussing this conversation with colleagues & she then immediately left.

To say the least I was taken aback; this was the first time I had met this woman (in 6 yrs as her neighbor), though my wife was friendly with her for a time. All allegations are completely baseless; there has been some minor tension over her son's behavior (he has Aspergers syndrome) towards my 2 boys but my wife & I have tried to be reasonable & civil & nothing untoward has happened from our side so this outburst came completely out of the blue. Alarmed by allegations I called 911 but was told it wasn't a police matter as no specific threats were made. The officer did advise me that I might file an anti harassment order but this is first incident of this kind & so no unlawful "course of conduct" as yet.

I fear this woman has the potential to do considerable harm to my reputation, both personal & professional. She doesn't work & has a great deal of time on her hands, spending a great deal of time gossiping around the neighborhood. Her father's remarks lead me to believe she has discussed me with him, also a neighbor with whom had been friendly suddenly stopped acknowledging me when I waved etc so I suspect she is already spreading this nonsense around the neighborhood. Now she has accussed me of stealing drugs from my workplace (this would cost me my professional license & cause financial ruin) My wife informed me that this woman was taking powerful narcotics for back pain & I suspect that her outburst may be linked to side effects from these drugs which include disinhibition, abnormal thoughts/feelings, persecutory delusions etc. Based on the anger & passion of her outburst I suspect she has developed some sort of fixation regarding me (I reiterate that allegations were completely bogus, not even exaggerations, simply delusionary - she doesn't even know me). Her children also expressed considerable hostility & I fear her behavior may be inciting them & am concerned her son might hurt my boys (he is obsessed with snipers & posesses a BBgun, & previously threatened to shoot them - didn't take it too seriously at the time, like I said trying to give benefit of the doubt). She is not overtly psychotic or disturbed or anything like that & had always appeared perfectly normal up till know so people will not just dismiss her as "crazy"

Any suggestions as to legal steps I could take to warn her off/shut this down would be very much appreciated as have never experienced anything like this before .

**Dogmatique** · 07-31-2012, 02:45 AM

You have suffered no damages. You have no case, and until she does something there's nothing you can do.

And uh..well, that paragraph right there? Quit diagnosing her, stick to your own business.

**Foster_Foster** · 08-01-2012, 12:53 PM

This is one of those TLDR posts (too long, didn't read). Way too much extraneous detail there.

''... suggested she close the blind."

This isn't a common sense remark for an adult to make to a teenager.

"I said that I looked forward to discussing this conversation with colleagues..."

Huh?

"Alarmed by allegations I called 911 ..."

I guess you're not kidding, but this is ... ridiculous.

"I fear this woman has the potential to do considerable harm to my reputation, both personal & professional."

You haven't said anything to indicate any such thing.

Your post does a whole lot of the same stuff as your neighbor in terms of suggesting and speculating this and that, so I'm not sure how that's any better (esp. since you're implying she's off her rocker and you're the rational adult).

You've never met her, but she's "developed some sort of fixation." I'd ask someone why you're leaning toward the grandiose.

"Any suggestions as to legal steps I could take to warn her off/shut this down would be very much appreciated as have never experienced anything like this before ."

Ignore her. As for "legal steps", you're free to waste money talking with a civil litigation attorney, of course.

**Browne** · 08-01-2012, 08:02 PM

Ignoring her outright is about the only thing you can do right now. Keep yourself well versed in harassment laws just in case she does step over the line one day, and it kind of sounds to me like she will.

**TruthLives** · 10-02-2012, 06:48 PM

I have to disagree with you that he has suffered no damages. She is slandering him by spreading lies that he is stealing drugs from the pharmacy that he works for, therefore, she could simply pick up the telephone and contact his employer and yet you say that he has suffered no damages? Not only is his professional reputation at stake by her viscous acts against him, but also his home and his family's well being are being threatened as well. TruthLives, just another white woman's opinion in 2012.

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I cannot believe that you even typed that post. You say that he hasn't said anything to indicate any such thing that could harm his personal and professional reputation, yet in his post, he says that she is slandering him to other neighbors and also said to him, that he is stealing medications from the pharmacy that he works for? Maybe you should take the time to read these posts, or just get off of expertlaw.com forums altogether, this isn't You Tube, my friend!! And, trust me, a good attorney could definitely send her a very powerful letter that would shut up her mouth real fast!! and, that's a FACT! TruthLives 2012.

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Listen Sir, you are absolutely correct in your letter and your cry for Justice regarding your horrific experience with this "neighbor from hell." I truly hope that you have contacted a good attorney and the Attorney General's office to file a complaint against this sick, twisted human being who has nothing to do but destroy the good reputations of her neighbors, pure and simple.

It is our right to have peace and safety in and around our dwellings, period. Everyone simply wants to pass the buck. And trust me, your attorney can send her a letter that can shut her up forever, against you and a copy of that letter can also be presented to your employer for your future protection. All the very best to you. TruthLives 2012

**Dogmatique** · 10-02-2012, 07:25 PM

Let's stick to the law, shall we?

Example: A "cease and desist" letter has absolutely no legal bearing at all. Sure, it often does the trick when sent to those who don't understand the legalities of the situation, but other than that? It's pretty worthless.

I suggest you read more, and post less.