Former Hoa Board Member being harassed by neighbor

Hi all,

I am a former board member. During my time on the board a group of members created an hoa facebook page. Well that page was libelous, constant complaints and used to pit homeowners against the board. While I was on board, I started having issues with a new neighbor, our carports and vehicles were constantly blocked by this new homeowner. They repeatedly had two unleashed dogs running around, causing trouble and pooping at peoples condos and under balconies. I reported the unleashed dogs to the management co and a violation notice was issued. As far as the first incident of blocking our vehicles, I had their guest move the car and said don’t block our vehicles. Well apparently this lady went on the hoa facebook page and constantly complained about me. None of us reran for the board because of the harassment of the group that created the facebook page. The creators all ran for the board, with no one else running. About a month after I left the board, the ladies dogs attacked my senior dog. New neighbor is friends with the new board because of all the nonsense on the facebook page. Immediately after the dog attack, new neighbor called her friend on the board and she went over to the neighbors house and the laughed about the dog attack outside our home, while my husband a children watched them. The neighbor then went on a verbal assault for being asked to move her vehicle from blocking my car. An animal control complaint was made with video evidence and they were made to send animal control their dogs vaccination evidence. The new board never issued any violations to their friend regarding the constant unleashed dogs, illegal blocking of our vehicles. The neighbor has called me a cunt, a bitch etc. and posts about me on multiple community facebook pages. Apparently, I am petty for needing to leave my home in my vehicle and petty for reporting the dog attack. Question, Would I be able to contact the association’s attorney for a cease and desist letter sent to the harassing neighbor. The associations attorney is aware of what the new board was doing, posting libelous information on the fb page they created. Do you think she would help me as a former board member being harassed for sending a violation notice while I was on the board. This has all caused my family so much emotional distress. We are still being constantly blocked as the neighbor tells her guess to do, she states her friends are on the board now and she can do whatever she wants. Please note, my sons car is being blocked at times, mine and my husbands depending on which one of us is parked in our carports. What should I do? We have not engaged in her verbal abuse or online postings. I have everything recorded, even the board members standing outside my home laughing and talking about me. ALL documented! And yes, there is also recordings of the dogs unleashed After the attack on my dog. I am medically disabled and have discussed making a civil rights complaint but I’d like to start with a cease and desist from the associations attorney?

I believe the correct approach is to see if the covenants prohibit harassing or nuisance behavior. Then submit a complaint citing any covenant that has such a prohibition. Ask the board to enforce the covenant. Document the harassment and/or nuisance. Ask the board to respond within ten days to your request.

If the board refuses to take action, then you will have to start threatening legal action. Then you really need the advice of an attorney. Things will get ugly fast.

Also, check with city ordinances and your state law that pertain to harassment.

And…do you have a vet bill from the dog attack?

I don't think the social media page was initially started by the Board.

Those individuals just happened to be elected to the board afterwards.

If those individuals are admins to the site, then an argument could be made that the site became an HOA site and, I think, it would depend if posts of a derogatory nature were made after the turn over of Directors.