Warning against neighbors?

[AnotherMoron]

What is the name of your state? AL

I'm actually in GA, but I'm asking for an AL friend. She has a neighbor who has erected a 'watchtower' of sorts in his back yard. It's within code, and on this tower are cameras, one of which is aimed directly at my friend's daughter's bedroom window, the others are aimed into my friend's backyard at her garden. My friend has also caught this man hiding in the sawgrass at the edge of her property and watching her daughter play, or watching my friend in her garden. Of course when she calls the police he's gone by the time they show up.

The police are doing nothing. Maybe they can't. I don't know, but my friend is scared of this guy's propensity for spying on her daughter and he won't listen to reason (she and several other neighbors went over trying to talk him into taking the cameras down).

What I want to know is, can she print up fliers with this man's face on them to post in the neighborhood telling everyone to watch out because he likes to spy on the neighbors? Would that be legal or would it fall under libel?

Much appreciation in advance for any help.

 

[quincy]

I understand your friend's concern, but posting flyers with this man's photo on it would be defamatory.

You might have your friend consult a lawyer about an invasion of privacy action against her neighbor. Having cameras aimed at a bedroom window is definitely an invasion. Having it aimed at a young girl's window is especially disturbing.

 

[AnotherMoron]

Thanks, quincy, I appreciate it and agree with you. I also think she needs a lawyer, but she's not in a financial position to afford one, I'm afraid.

I'm unsure how, or even if it's possible to, point her in the direction of someone willing to work the case pro bono. I'm also concerned for her daughter and herself, I know this is worrying her half to death, these neighbors have been on a campaign of harassment against my friend for quite some time. She's done nothing to provoke these people (other than being an atheist) and they're known in the neighborhood for annoying everyone in similar ways, although no one except my friend has been targeted with cameras and electronic owl sounds at random intervals. It's all very bizarre.

Thanks again for your help, it's much appreciated.

 

[quincy]

You or your friend could call the Alabama Bar Association for direction or your friend could see if there is a low or no cost legal aid clinic in her area.

For an attorney who does work pro bono, she might want to check large law firms around her - the larger firms often require of their staff attorneys that a certain number of hours a month be devoted to pro bono work. Law schools can be a source of help as well.

In the meantime, I would try to make sure the daughter's window is blocked in some way, to protect the girl from this neighbor's camera. And continue to call the police when the neighbor's actions are worrisome.

Good luck.

 

[AnotherMoron]

Thanks for the direction, quincy. It's much appreciated. I will certainly pass your recommendations on to my friend. She has blocked her daughter's window for the time being and is looking into installing a large box on a pole to put right in the camera's field of view to further block his pervy access to her daughter.

 

[quincy]

One of those rather annoying bright security spotlights aimed at the camera might work, as well. Good luck to your friend.

 

[TheGeekess]

You or your friend could call the Alabama Bar Association for direction or your friend could see if there is a low or no cost legal aid clinic in her area.

In the 30 years I've lived and worked in Bama, I've not ever heard tell of legal aid clinics.

For an attorney who does work pro bono, she might want to check large law firms around her - the larger firms often require of their staff attorneys that a certain number of hours a month be devoted to pro bono work. Law schools can be a source of help as well.

She'd do better to check with the Bar Association. Of course, if she wanted a cease & desist letter, she might find a lawyer in her town that will draw up the paperwork for a small fee. There's a School of Law at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. There's also the B'ham School of Law. There's a law school at Samford University in Bham, too.

In the meantime, I would try to make sure the daughter's window is blocked in some way, to protect the girl from this neighbor's camera. And continue to call the police when the neighbor's actions are worrisome.

Good luck.

Here are the Alabama Statutes your friend might need:
http://alisdb.legislature.state.al.us/acas/CodeOfAlabama/1975/13A-11-30.htm
http://alisdb.legislature.state.al.us/acas/CodeOfAlabama/1975/13A-11-32.htm

 

[quincy]

I'm guessing you have not needed the services of a free legal aid clinic before, TheGeekess.

Free Legal Services in Alabama (LSA) is a statewide nonprofit organization that will help those who qualify. They have offices in Anniston, Birmingham, Dothan, Florence, Huntsville, Mobile, Montgomery, Opelika, Selma and Tuscaloose. Free and low cost civil legal help is also available throught the Alabama Legal Help Organization, at 1-866-456-4995.

 

[TheGeekess]

I'm guessing you have not needed the services of a free legal aid clinic before, TheGeekess.

Free Legal Services in Alabama (LSA) is a statewide nonprofit organization that will help those who qualify. They have offices in Anniston, Birmingham, Dothan, Florence, Huntsville, Mobile, Montgomery, Opelika, Selma and Tuscaloose. Free and low cost civil legal help is also available throught the Alabama Legal Help Organization, at 1-866-456-4995.

I think I called Legal Aid (as it was called then) once in the '80's... I was told that they didn't handle that kind of case. I want to say it was about divorce, though.