Judge Pro Tem William F. Davis ruled in favor of Alfreda B. Guzik, 86, after hearing testimony from her and her neighbor, Arlene B. Herman. They detailed the contentious history of the fence that has not only divided their properties but also each other.
Guzik sued Herman for dismantling a redwood fence she had installed late last year. Herman had already sued Guzik — and won — for dismantling the original chainlink fence to make way for the redwood one.
Before installing the redwood fence, Guzik claimed that she left a note asking her neighbor for permission to replace it.
When her neighbor didn’t reply, Guzik went ahead with her plans. But Herman was less than pleased with the change. She said she was partial to the chainlink fence because it allowed shrubbery to grow along it.
So, last year, she took Guzik to court for dismantling her chainlink fence and was awarded $1,225.
But that wasn’t enough. Guzik told the court that shortly after Herman’s initial victory, she began receiving letters from Herman demanding that she turn the fence around, so the “nice side of the fence” would face Herman’s property.
But Guzik refused.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on August 17, 2002. Read the original PDF.