Neighbor Harassment Legal Clarification

Summary

A single instance of a neighbor saying Hey you! You better stop may not meet the legal definition of harassment in New York, which typically requires repeated behavior intended to annoy, alarm, or threaten. If similar incidents occur, it could potentially be considered harassment. Its advisable to keep a record of any future interactions. If you have ongoing concerns, consulting with a local attorney could provide personalized guidance.

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One of my neighbors that talks to my father and David about the cops being at our house when John Carnegie thought that we needed to call the cops and he helped me call the cops on my dad and there were even recordings verifying my friends about my dad and there was a second time someone named Derry Johnston called the cops because she thought I was suicidal my neighbor only heard my dad's side of all this so this morning when Jill was trying to enter into an Uber car my neighbor named Gene shouted across the street and said this to Dale " Hey you need to stop" Dale did not say anything back to the guy and entered the Uber. He said "Hey you" a rude greeting and then he said " you need to stop" they just believe anything that my father and David says in a brief interaction in the front yard they don't go do anything that we go through around here. And my brother named Dale is mentally disabled.
Hi Patrick, it sounds like there's a lot of tension and misunderstanding between your neighbors and your family. If you're seeking legal advice, could you clarify whether you're looking for guidance on:
- Defamation or harassment by your neighbor?
- Help with managing false reports to the police?
- Support for your brother Dale's rights as a mentally disabled individual?
Is it harassment for the neighbor to say Hey you! You better stop
Hi Patrick, in New York, harassment generally involves repeated behavior that's intended to annoy, alarm, or threaten someone. Based on what you've described, a single instance of your neighbor saying "Hey you! You better stop" might not constitute legal harassment. However, if this behavior continues, it could potentially be considered harassment.
Is this a recurring issue with your neighbor?
It happened once
Hi Patrick. Since the incident happened only once, it might not meet the legal definition of harassment, which generally requires repeated behavior. If similar incidents occur again, it could be more serious. Keep a record of any future interactions.
If you have any more questions or concerns, feel free to ask!