Legal Question in Civil Litigation in Florida
Yesterday a neighbor called the cops and told them I threatened to kill their dogs. When the cops spoke to them a second time they said I threatened to have my husband kill the dogs. (I'm not married.) I suppose the cops noticed the change in their story because nothing was done and the cops left without takeing any formal statements or anything.
Today another neighbor (who also has issues with the dogs and has called animal control in the past) spoke to me and said this woman had been around fishing for information about me and stated she had hoped I would have been arrested so she could sue me.
Her only final complaint to the cops after they spoke to her a third time was that the way I knocked on the door "traumatized her children".
I couldn't find anything that said whether or not she had much of a case, especially since other people have filed complaints about her dogs in the past.
Do I need to worry about protecting myself legally?
2 Answers from Attorneys
I read your question, but I don't understand what you did that would give your neighbor any reason to either call the cops or file suit against you. If you have a problem with the noise created by the dogs, call the police instead of confronting her yourself.
I don't think your neighbor has a case against you, based upon what you have stated. The way you can protect yourself legally is to stay away from your neighbor so she doesn't provoke you into a situation which could give rise to either criminal or civil actions against you. As Ms. Longa stated, if you have an issue with the noise created by the dogs, call the police.
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