What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? MA
I own one of 3 units in a Boston condo building. The woman who owns the 3rd floor unit has consistently ignored the condo rules with regards to community space since I moved in 3 years ago and there have been heated discussions with her about this on many occasions. The previous owners of the first floor finally had enough and sold their unit last fall (at a loss). Today she convinced a strange man who was working on a house nearby to gain access to my private deck in order to get a broken planter that fell off her small roof ledge onto my deck. I was horrified to walk into my living room and see a strange man standing a few feet away on the other side of a glass french door. Luckily I was partially clothed. This was clearly an invasion of my privacy not to mention trespassing. I called the police and had a police report done but they told me that I could not press charges because I don't have a sign posted on my porch saying "private property". I feel like this has now reached the point of legal action against the woman on the 3rd floor. My condo docs stipulate that any disagreements between owners go through mediation first but I'm wondering what my rights are from that point and if this will simply be an exercise in futility. Any advise or further information on this matter would be much appreciated. Thanks.
I own one of 3 units in a Boston condo building. The woman who owns the 3rd floor unit has consistently ignored the condo rules with regards to community space since I moved in 3 years ago and there have been heated discussions with her about this on many occasions. The previous owners of the first floor finally had enough and sold their unit last fall (at a loss). Today she convinced a strange man who was working on a house nearby to gain access to my private deck in order to get a broken planter that fell off her small roof ledge onto my deck. I was horrified to walk into my living room and see a strange man standing a few feet away on the other side of a glass french door. Luckily I was partially clothed. This was clearly an invasion of my privacy not to mention trespassing. I called the police and had a police report done but they told me that I could not press charges because I don't have a sign posted on my porch saying "private property". I feel like this has now reached the point of legal action against the woman on the 3rd floor. My condo docs stipulate that any disagreements between owners go through mediation first but I'm wondering what my rights are from that point and if this will simply be an exercise in futility. Any advise or further information on this matter would be much appreciated. Thanks.