Condo Owner Harassed by Fellow Unit Owner for Years!

S.G. from New Jersey writes:

Dear Mister Condo,

I have been bullied and harassed by a unit owner since 2008. I have used the local police department and applied for a Harassment Protection Order. Unfortunately, I cannot afford a lawyer, the other owner can. He said, she said type of court case. Our property manager refuses to help even with situations where a trustee has witnessed the verbal attack. Police suggested getting her on video, I have 2 showing the abuse, but still not help from the property manager. Please help.

Mister Condo replies:

S.G., I am sorry that you have been a victim of harassment. Harassment is a legal term and you have done the right thing by involving the police. This is not an issue for the Property Manager so please don’t go back to the Property Manager if you are being harassed. This is an issue for law enforcement, who asked you to record the abuse on video which you did. Have you presented the video to the police? That is who will act, not the Property Manager. You applied for a Harassment Protection Order? Was it granted? Has it been violated by the unit owner? Again, these are all issues for the police; not the Property Manager. Property Managers are great at managing properties and assisting Boards with the day-to-day work of running the association. Neither the Board nor the Property Manager are law enforcement. When you are the victim of a crime, like harassment, the police, and only the police, are who you should be turning to for help. All the best!