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<DIV><SPAN class=897051319-19062009><FONT size=4>Your suggestions are welcome on
the situation below.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=897051319-19062009><FONT size=4></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=897051319-19062009><FONT size=4>Last September we saw someone
walk across the alley behind Calvert to the St. Paul side and pour gasoline over
the door of a garage. We could smell the gasoline from our house, about
five doors down, and then a person with us went up to it and confirmed that it
was in fact gasoline.</FONT></SPAN></DIV><SPAN class=897051319-19062009>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT><BR><FONT size=4>We thought this was bizarre and did
not know what to do.<SPAN class=897051319-19062009> We did not know the
persons intent but were concerned that if there was a fire it could affect the
whole block of row houses. If a neighbor had seen someone do this to our
house or the house next door we'd want them to call the police, so we
did.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=897051319-19062009></SPAN><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>T<SPAN class=897051319-19062009>he police</SPAN><SPAN
class=897051319-19062009> sent out the arson squad. We never accused
anyone of arson but did report the pouring of gasoline.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><SPAN class=897051319-19062009></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><SPAN class=897051319-19062009>Recently we found out that the
individual was arrested and held over in jail for three days, paying a $1,000
bond to get out. The police wanted to charge him with attempted arson but
the prosecutors felt they could not prove it. The police/prosecutor never
called us to discuss whether there was anything more than gasoline being
poured. </SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><SPAN class=897051319-19062009></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><SPAN class=897051319-19062009>We received a letter from a
lawyer, Howard Schulman, threatening to sue us for defamation because we
accused his client of attempted arson. In the letter the lawyer
acknowledged that his client did indeed pour gasoline in the alley. He
claimed it was to kill rats. Pouring gasoline and other chemicals in the
ally is itself illegal.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><SPAN class=897051319-19062009></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><SPAN class=897051319-19062009>We wrote back saying that the
lawyer had the facts wrong and we did not accuse anyone of attempted arson,
merely that he poured gasoline on a neighbors garage -- something the lawyer
admitted.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><SPAN class=897051319-19062009></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><SPAN class=897051319-19062009>The lawyer wrote back with a
draft complaint continuing his threat to sue and telling us to have our lawyer
or insurance company call him.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><SPAN class=897051319-19062009></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><SPAN class=897051319-19062009>We contacted our insurance
company which initially said they would cover this, but now say they do
not. They say they talked to the lawyer and that he does intend to
sue. He suggests we get a lawyer.</SPAN></FONT></DIV><SPAN
class=897051319-19062009>
<DIV><BR><FONT size=4>Of course, getting a lawyer would probably cost more than
settling the case but we do not want to settle a false claim<SPAN
class=897051319-19062009> or hire a lawyer.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=897051319-19062009><FONT size=4>We see this as a legal stick-up
-- the type of thing that will discourage others from calling the police when
they see a crime.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=897051319-19062009><FONT size=4></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=897051319-19062009><FONT size=4>Any suggestions? Any
lawyers or others with experience with this?</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=897051319-19062009><FONT size=4></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=897051319-19062009><FONT size=4>Thanks.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=897051319-19062009><FONT size=4></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=897051319-19062009><FONT
size=4>KZ</FONT></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></DIV></BODY></HTML>