Legal Question in Civil Litigation in Pennsylvania

The officer said this because he does not want to be bothered because you and Gladys Kravitz cannot get along and be civilized. This is not a police matter and its not criminal, so stop bothering the police.

I don't want you or her to end up dead or in jail so short of that, you need to figure out how you will resolve this. If she will not cooperate, then focus on what you can control.

Look, I know she is annoying. Maybe there is something going on in her life and she vents her frusrations this way. I don't know her and I don't know you, so maybe I am off. One way to find out may be to talk to neighbors to see if you can get a handle on what is going on. If you knew what was wrong, maybe you can even befriend her, but that may be asking a bit much. However, I can hope.

If she is just one of those people who delight in making misery for others, then you have a choice. You can move and be rid of her for good. No, you should not be forced from your home, but if she drives you nuts, then just get of there. Move on your terms, not hers, but leave for the sake of your sanity.

If moving is not an option, you can just ignore her. It takes a strong person to do this. It takes an even stronger person to go out of your way to be jolly and pleasant. Kill her with kindness. You will absolutely drive her insane (assuming she is not already) because here she is, doing her utmost to make you miserable and it is having the opposite effect! She will have a nervous breakdown trying to figure it out.

If you cannot do this, then don't play her game. Make her play yours. You have to think smarter than her. As long as you do not harm her or her property or break a law or violate an ordinance, I will leave it up to your ingenuity as to what you do. Play whatever kinds of music MOST annoy her when you are working outside - just keep it within the levels of any noise ordinance. Put up a 16 foot high privacy fence (or go as high as the zoning ordinances allow). Videotape her whenever she goes outside. As long as you are on your property, you can do whatever you want, including videotape her. Have a tape recorder handy too and record her yelling and screaming (besides, you may need evidence later). Remind her cheerfully that she would not want to say anything that she does not want repeated in a court of law. Put up hidden survellance cameras in case she decides to do actual damage to your property or sends someone else to do it.

Failing that, how much are you willing to spend? I would be glad to do it, but I am in NC and a letter from me will not have as much punch as a letter from a PA lawyer. It would be a nice shot across the bow that she needs. Pay a lawyer (even a relative who may be a lawyer) to send her a strongly worded letter telling her to cease and desist forthwith or else you will take legal action. However, you have got to follow through or she will call your bluff. If she continues, do what I said about the videotaping and recording and when you get several instances of this after the lawyer letter is sent, then you will have to hire the lawyer to get an injunction. You will have all the evidence that you need and once it starts costing her money in legal fees (this will not be covered by her homeowner's insurance) then she will get the message unless she is independently wealthy and can afford it.

Don't get the idea that because most of this was written sarcastically or with tongue-in-cheek that I do not take your situation seriously. I do. But the legal solution is only to be used as a last resort.