Christmas lights are such a wonderful sight to see during the holiday season, except for some neighbors in Livermore, California. In such a petty way, they have sued a couple over their holiday decor, seeking $100K in damages for their lights, a wind chime, and a fence.
As reported by NBC Bay Area, sharing a clip of the case on TikTok, the controversial lawsuit involves James and Jannet Hays. The California husband and wife revealed that the issues with their neighbor started back in 2022 with an overextended concrete driveway that the Hays later corrected.
Things continued to worsen between the Hays and their neighbors. James even attempted to file a restraining order against them, to no avail. All of this, however, was just background noise for James and Jannet, who had their minds set on their holiday traditions.
Each year, when the holiday season arrived, the Hays enthusiastically put out their Christmas lights and decorations, including snowmen, gingerbread men, and a rooftop Santa Claus. This year, however, the light show has driven them to a legal scuffle they didn’t ask for.
In the lawsuit, the neighbors accuse the California couple of installing tens of outdoor lights that are aimed at their bedroom windows. The flickering pattern, the neighbors say, disturbed them from 6 p.m. to 5 a.m., disrupting their sleep.
On top of that, the neighbors also alleged that the Hays’ wind chime, a family heirloom, was generating a significant amount of noise. The married couple, however, pointed out that the “ambient car noise is much louder than the wind chime.”
Finally, the neighbors also accused the Hays of installing a 10-foot fence, which, according to them, violates city policy. In total, the neighbors are asking for $100K in damages.
Denying Accusations, Reactions
The Hays have denied the accusations and have filed a legal objection to get rid of the lawsuit. While a judge has invited both parties to mediate, the California couple has burned through $80K in legal fees. Despite the mounting expenses, the Hays are not backing down from their Christmas lights tradition.
“We’re just trying to live our lives,” Jannet told the outlet, in tears. “We’re just trying to be happy.”
Users online lambasted the California neighbors and their lawsuit, many of them doubting it is valid and calling it frivolous.
“Do they live next door to the Grinch?” one user asked. Another one said, “They’d lose their mind if they saw my neighbor’s house.” A third one commented, “Sounds like the neighbors need to move.”
It appears the Hays still have a long road ahead, and hopefully their Christmas isn’t ruined completely by the legal mumbo jumbo.
A California couple is being sued by their neighbors over Christmas outdoor lighting, a wind chime, and a fence.
