Legal Question in Real Estate Law in Massachusetts

Re: Damage to car

You can take two people to small claims court using the one form, I think. I recommend taking the landlord and the neighbor since I'm not really sure who is responsible.

What I do know if that when a branch overhangs from one property to another, the party that doesn't own the tree can nevertheless cut off the branch. But I don't know if having that right makes it their responsibility when they don't exercise the right and the branch does damage.

So bring them both. Let the magistrate decide. Good luck collecting if it's the neighbor, but if it's the landlord, you can take it out of the rent.

The manager is just an agent for the landlord and isn't responsible directly for anything he does in his capacity as manager, simply put.

Re: Damage to car

If I knew that the landlord was responsible (and I tend to think he MIGHT be, but I'm not sure), I would suggest you take it out of your rent when you got the car repaired, but if the landlord chose to make an issue of it, you'd be facing eviction (for non-payment of rent).