Neighbour abuse and defamation

If this is in NSW check out the anti bullying legislation .

In our company title block , we had a few issues we were unsure about and had a solicitor john Morrissey , come in and talk to us for an hour or so and answer questions six weeks ago .m He runs work shops for company title management .

He was quite clear cut about the way to go in situations like this and that is to report it to which ever body is involved in supervising the anti bullying legislation ( new legislation ) . They have teeth .

What this person is doing is inappropriate and they should be stopped .

Do that first , and then follow the guidelines .

If they are doing inappropriate things , then it maybe quite feasible to get them kicked off the strata board ... That can be used a lever .

Even go to the point of recording a meeting for record . I've done that when I want to be able to prove what happened , but they would need to be aware you're recording it . If they're dumb enough to send inflammatory emails they're unlikely to object

We are about to include a new house rule saying every one should behave in a polite and civil manner etc ...

Cliff

That's a great advise! Thanks!
 
I didn't read that this was happening at a meeting?

What sort of things are in the emails? What are the attacks about?

Assuming they are unfounded, I would be making a police statement. Perhaps a visit to the abuser from the boys in blue might make them sit up and take notice.

No that happens not at the meetings, but in between.

From what I see so far, the aggrieved party just raises issues that others don't like much or would like to not resolve it. Though the issues are all relevant and not wrong. i.e. the defamatory statement could be "unit x has done this" when it's not true, but unit x has raised their voice in regards to an issue where the other unit owner has got some interest. or "unit x asks for money from the sinking fund" - when the spending is approved by all owners, or "unit x is a lunatic" or "unit x is ignorant and ill-informed".
 
Thanks for advise! As I wrote above, here's the examples: "unit x has done this" when it's not true, or "unit x asks for money from the sinking fund" - when the spending is approved by all owners, or "unit x is a lunatic" or "unit x is ignorant and ill-informed". All those statements make the unit x owner look like a bad person which obviously damage reputation and may cause serious consequences.

I don't really see what "serious consequences" are on the cards...?

Honestly, it seems like the type of stuff that can simply be ignored.

You wouldn't be able to get a restraining order for this sort of thing either.
 
Get someone to Place a dead cat at their front door step. Preferably the abuser's cat. lol.

Oh, alright, that's a bit drastic. Try negotiation (boring!).

Lol, interesting idea! They don't have cats or other pets though. Need to find something else. :)
 
Yes. Killing a defenseless animal for a bit of revenge is drastic. And inappropriate. There was no lol from me at that comment.

Anyhoo... To the OP.. Have you raised this with your strata manager?

Well the strata manager says that it is unacceptable, but that's it so far. Will see how it can be taken from there.
 
My thoughts exactly. Go knock on the persons door and throw a bullet at them and then say the next one is coming a lot quicker

I suppose that would just keep the problem going, until someone has found the more powerful power to deliver bullets! :)
 
Any reason why ignoring it wouldn't work?

How bazzar. Surely BC should step in when someone is getting abused in a meeting!

I usually find ...

Keep all the defamatory emails...

From experience, nope!...

If they're serious get an avo.

If this is in NSW check out the anti bullying legislation...

I didn't read that this was happening at a meeting?...

Get someone to Place a dead cat ...

Anyhoo... To the OP.. Have you raised this with your strata manager?

My thoughts exactly. Go knock on the persons door and throw a bullet at them and then say the next one is coming a lot quicker

Thanks to all for your prompt response to this thread! Will try those methods and see how it goes.
 
I don't really see what "serious consequences" are on the cards...?

Honestly, it seems like the type of stuff that can simply be ignored.

You wouldn't be able to get a restraining order for this sort of thing either.

Thanks for your response, thatbum!

By the serious consequences I mean the people who read those messages might see the victim as a bad person at the end and could either disregard completely or damage victims property or personality as a result of those statements. i.e. if someone would say that thatbum has damaged the common property and that's the cause of someone's problems, without any proof - could it be simply ignored?
I understand that people may disregard it, but if that happens regularly that should be stopped.

Anyway it's great to do the reality check and see what could be done and where legal framework would be of any help or not in this case.

Thanks for the feedback!
 
. i.e. if someone would say that thatbum has damaged the common property and that's the cause of someone's problems, without any proof - could it be simply ignored?
I understand that people may disregard it, but if that happens regularly that should be stopped.

Honestly, I would just ignore it, and tell my client the same thing if they came to me with a story like that.

It need more than that before I recommend taking any legal action or anything like that.

God if there was a lawsuit everytime someone said something that hurt another person's feelings...
 
Honestly, I would just ignore it, and tell my client the same thing if they came to me with a story like that.

It need more than that before I recommend taking any legal action or anything like that.

God if there was a lawsuit everytime someone said something that hurt another person's feelings...

I see, thanks! It's good to have an advise like that from a specialist.

I was not saying the lawsuit would be the only option. What I am intersted in is the variety of options available to stop that, because it is simply wrong. From equity perspective or simply put from ethics and common sense point of view.
However when you are saying "It need more than that before I recommend taking any legal action or anything like that" - what do you mean?
What should have happened?
 
However when you are saying "It need more than that before I recommend taking any legal action or anything like that" - what do you mean?
What should have happened?

Either some actual loss or damage, or direct harassment.

A person saying bad things to other people about you is annoying - but you should probably get over it unless it somehow directly affects you.
 
Thanks for advise! As I wrote above, here's the examples: "unit x has done this" when it's not true, or "unit x asks for money from the sinking fund" - when the spending is approved by all owners, or "unit x is a lunatic" or "unit x is ignorant and ill-informed". All those statements make the unit x owner look like a bad person which obviously damage reputation and may cause serious consequences.
I've been researching this a bit lately as my husband, kids and I have been defamed but under different circumstances so I've got a fair idea of the personality of the person bullying and manipulating. It's all about jealousy. The defamation needs to be untrue comments rather than gossip and affect your reputation resulting in loss. I was also called a lunatic and greedy. I don't know how I'd actually prove that's not true! The lies about my husband could possibly be proved as incorrect. There is information on the internet that you could look up. I don't want to sue the person and go through the court system. I think mediation would be a waste of time. What I would like is for the person to be made to announce that her lies aren't true.
Either some actual loss or damage, or direct harassment.

A person saying bad things to other people about you is annoying - but you should probably get over it unless it somehow directly affects you.
If it's anything like what I've been going through, people who used to be my friends now act quite different to me. We also get completely ignored and nasty texts from others.
One of the key reasons I want the truth to be out is that I feel anxious attending places where I might see people that are being fed the lies. I feel this person will continue if I don't do anything. It sounds like this person being bullied feels the same. I just had the RSPCA attend my property due to a cruelty report which I'm sure is related to the person defaming us. You wonder what will be next. Doing nothing hasn't worked for me.

Excellent advice from Seechange and I also recommend taking a look at the defamation options.
 
If it's anything like what I've been going through, people who used to be my friends now act quite different to me. We also get completely ignored and nasty texts from others.

Some friends got this as well. I think the perpetrator must have been so bored and have a lot of time to care about other people's business.

Can you print out all the nasty texts with respective name and put it on a board for everyone to see? Titled "Harassments I received when doing research for xyz"
Sometimes I wonder if these people actually read what they wrote.

:p
 
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