how would you handle this?

RamblinRose THANK YOU!
and FoxyWench you are exactly right.

We have tried to 'make peace for now'. He is totally unreasonable..going kookoo in the head.
He had his lawyer send a letter of demand for an amount of rent and DH went to his house with check in hand for half the $ for the coming year and the guy became hostile and ran him off, then called and said why do we refuse to talk about it, negotiate or come to an agreement.
Then the next day, called incoherently saying DH was at his home peeking in his windows, and DH was standing next to me.

We do have arrangement to get most of the cattle moved 1st week of May depending on the weather, but that really pales in comparison to the 4 1/2 buildings, extensive fencing, huge garden, and an array of pig and goat runs, with pigs and goats and shelters in them. Once the ground dries, if we had all our ducks in a row, it will take up the entirety of the summer to move everything, except the 1/2 building. Nothing can be done about that.

This is a 20 year old mess that started long before I came here, and now I get to clean it up. I know its a losing battle and we are going to probably lose our home over it. That isn't the issue, but with him acting really stupid, our lives and the lives of our livestock could be in danger, and when the police won't help us in an honest fashion, we aren''t left with many options.

He told DH last week that he was going to begin carrying a gun in his truck and between the two of them, one would shoot the other. ANY carry is illegal here, and the man drives past our home 10 times a day real slow. We have been hiding in a building every time we hear his truck coming.
Happy foxtrapper? you have more of the story, and I would LOVE to see your method of backing a cattle trailer through 18 inches of mud on top of solid ice. Please tell me. I know what the ground is capable of here, I have driven all manner of equipment over it in all seasons and all weather. You haven't.

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Did you or your husband hear this statement from the sherriff directly?

Or did someone say someone said someone heard this comment?


There is more going on here, and I understand you don't want to go into it.

This part you've gone into, and it does not square up as stated. Did you hear thate directly from the sherriff's mouth?

--->Paul

That would obviously be totally against human nature, Rose.

In a 20 year old dispute, who is right & who propmised what and what happened can be very blurry.

Some of the questions are to try to find out why things are where they are at.

So far there appears to be no - none - zero - documentation of anything from land, building, livestock, or machinery repair business, they are renting from a person that has a 20 year bad history with them, the sherriff or the police are involved and take the other person's side.....

There can be a lot of details that smooth the lapses over; but to accept one side or another in this story, one needs a few more details.


Obviously, the deal is to move & get out of there, get your friends together with high-boots and a front wheel assist tractor on the trailer, and _move_. It works fine on 18 inch deep frost, it's done all the time around here. It makes a mess, it's not cheap or easy, but it works.

Not much else to do without more info. Time to move.

If we can't ask any questions.

I realize we should be supportive of members here, and I want to be sympathetic. But; things do need to add up in order to do so, for me anyhow.

--->Paul

If memory serves, weren't you having serious cattle morbidity issues? Like several of them dropping dead? Perhaps he's scared that whatever you're cattle have will contaminate his pastures? Just asking.

Or maybe he caused it?

Is he on drugs? This seriously sounds like when my (thankfully deseased, but thats another matter) uncle was on meth. You never would have known, but by the choices he made and the things he believed. But no matter the reason GET THEE MOVED, you know, asap.

And I would be seriously considering whether he may have had somewhat to do with your cattle dropping dead, if that happened.

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Shara

"The only point to this life is to raise the children right."
~William K. Gilmore

"Being slightly paranoid is like being slightly pregnant - it tends to get worse."
~Molly Ivins

Sadly I agree. This guy holds all the cards, for what ever reason it would seem like the law is on his side. In my dealings with police it would seem unfortunately that a lot of them are idiots. It matters less who is right and who is wrong then who knows who. In rural counties it seems like the police are a lot less professional and go around with a big chip on their shoulder. What is worse is when they shuffle bad cops from department to department, I've seen it happen twice where I live.

LonelyFarmGirl from the picture you paint there is no salvaging this. Sometimes a loss is a loss. I think anyway you slice it you are going to be out a lot of money. Unfortunately it seems like most of the time idiots win. It isn't fair. Having dealt with more than my fair share of morons I can sympathize with your situation.

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Then you're the perfect expert and know all the answers. Bully for you.

You must raise strange cows. Around here all our cows can walk, odd that yours can't.

I think you're reacting with so much anger that you can't resolve things without great emotion. I'm not saying I don't understand, cause I'd be very angry too! however, you did ask, and I think everyone gave the only advice possible. somehow you have to move your cattle, or pay him whatever he wants until you can. he really does...crazy or not...hold all the cards. I'd also never believe heresay, and I agree that this isn't something police deal with. which means it's not personal against just you. when the landlord cried theft, of course they had to respond. obviously your hubby didn't get arrested, just added that fuel to the fire. again...stop reacting with so much anger. it's getting you nowhere but deeper. just. get. out. there is a fine line that gets crossed when there is a long fight, and it sounds like he is only now interested in making your life miserable. once you're off his land, then it's over. you don't have to move, you can just choose to ignor his craziness.

Lots of good advice here. If you have rental agreement in writing then you can have a lawyer look over it if it gets bad. Can you move your cattle somewhere else? I know it's not an easy solution and would be a pain in the neck, just saying that once a deal like this has gone awry it doesn't usually get to be as nice as it once was, you know? I do feel for you. It's hard when the stars are stacked against you in this way. I'd be cautious about starting a blog etc because then you could be in for slander/libel charges if you air your dirties in that fashion. Be careful who you confide in locally too.... as words are easily spun and tend to cause more trouble than good. I'm all for "going over their heads". I hope you can find a solution that works quickly and effectively!!!

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hmmmmm.....this has been 20 yrs in the making?

I got my education from the Judge Judy School of Law and learned one very important quote:

"If it doesn't make sense, then it's not true."

This makes no sense. I know you want support from all your internet buddies, but let's face the truth. You are so apparently involved in this that your vision has been clouded. It reminds me of two kids fighting. Somewhere between "he said/she said" is the truth. Right now we only here the "she said" part. It's to your advantage to leave out the parts that don't support the other guys issues. Since you said this has been going on for 20 years, I have to ask: WHY??? Has he been trying to evict you and you just won't leave?

This didn't start since the snow fell.

this nonsense started about 9 months ago, its been progressive since then.

and the realtor will be here tomorrow.

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That was totally uncalled for. Obviously, you were never told as a child, if you can't say something nice, then don't say it at all!

Like someone else has stated keep detailed records of what is going on, and what has been said.
Take any threatening serious. Call and report each time to the Sheriff.
So what if the Sheriff gets tired of hearing from you.
If he fails to preform his job then call the state police or your local news station and let them have the whole story.
My db & dsil had a neighbor like this they where not renting anything from him and said neighbor was always threatening them.
Sheriff department told my brother oh he is a good old boy he is harmless.

The said good old boy murdered my brother, his wife and shot my 13 yr old nephew.

Said good old boy is sitting on death row.

listen..I didn't want you to think I didn't (or many of us here) feel your pain. do..done! when he demanded a rent amount, you state your dh went with HALF. madman became hostile. sweetie...again..it's his ballgame. half wasn't cutting it anymore. it's a sad situation, but showing up with half still had the ball in his court. eh..don't listen to his dribble about carrying a gun..yada, yada.....he is bent on freaking you out (and seems he is getting to you?) he isn't going to accept half......he IS going to try his best (and seems to be working) at making you totally miserable. realtor? for what...your home? you'd leave over one silly feud? one stupid neighbor that can be deleted from your life the minute you are no longer on his property? I saw where someone asked how many cows, yet didn't see a reply. how many? surely..surely there is someone that can rent you their pasture for right now??

I think I don't really understand. I see you posting, wanting so much to have support for your end of this fight......when there isn't a fight here. it's just a terrible situation that now has you moving your cows, cause some guy is a big jerk. he is a jerk. that much we all agree on..and side with you. but otherwise.......this isn't a win for you until you leave.

No landlord has to accept less than full payment.

I wondered about the number of cows also. Did he agree to rent the pasture when you had 3 cows and now you have 30? Did he agree to rent the pasture for cows and now you not only have cows, but pigs tearing up the soil? You did post on your website that the pigs dug a 4' deep hole to sleep in. hmmmmm.....

We don't KNOW that he is a jerk. We only heard one side and we really don't know whether it's a correct side, so I, for one, don't agree with the OP. I am open-minded, though.

What ever else I & others are saying, I realize you are in a terrible situation and really hurting.

I feel bad for you on that, and whatever else we are questioning or thinking, I really do feel for you. I hope you find a good ending to this. I'm sure it looks far from it at the moment.

The only real solution is to put your energies into finding someplace else & getting moved on to someplace else. The guy might be nutz, but agreeing to that doesn't really help you. Getting yourself in a better situation is the only thing that's gonna work.

If we are not sounding helpful here..... Sorry about that. We've all had tough times, all had handshake deals that went bad. I wish I had some magic words that would make it all better...

Your best bet is to try to think of positive things about moving to a better situation.

--->Paul

I agree, there is no need for "attitude" on either side of this. A simple.... "if you cant get the trailer to the cows.... bring the cows to the trailer" would have sufficed. I know thats what I would be doing at this point. Its a bit unhandy, but cattle have been known to walk half way across the US in years gone by, crossing lots of muddy spots on their way. Something as simple as a rope around their neck and they will lead pretty well. One at a time if need be. What I would not be doing is waiting for spring to move them, not with a guy like she has described owning the property they are on.

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Yes, if we lose this land we have to move. Our buildings encroach on his property. Like I said before, this is a mess that started LONG before I came here. This man and DH bought this place together. They had some kind of life long deal between them. DH bought the house and woods, the guy bought the fields in the middle. This man suckered DH into this when he was only 16. DH grew into adulthood trusting this man. And due to his increasingly complicated health problems, and age, he is losing it in his brain. He has betrayed my husband so badly, it is irreparable.

And what animals we have and what they are doing have nothing to do with it. The guy cannot come onto the property without going through our drive. He hasn't been on the property but a half dozen times in the last 5 years.

He cares about money and nothing more.

And yes, you are right, I suppose we could borrow or buy some gates and build some kind of a chute lane to run the cattle onto driveable ground into a trailer. Wouldn't matter. The only rental pasture we were able to find is 2 hours away and won't be ready till May.
They ain't leadable. You couldn't pay me to try. We have around 50 head right now.

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Welcome to small town life where who ya know decides what the law is.

MOVE.

Just wanted to point out that if your DH entered into any kind of contract or real estate deal at 16... It's not legally binding. Someone who is not a legal adult cannot make a legal deal. So maybe there is some other way out of it for you.

I assume you are now renting the "middle" portion that the business partner owns, correct? Have you offered to buy it? Had someone else offer to buy it and then sell it to you? Even at an inflated price, it may be easier and cheaper to do than than try to move all your livestock and buildings.

I also agree with the idea to contact the state police regarding the threats if your local police aren't even taking a report to document them. The landlord thing is a civil dispute, but threats are a criminal matter. If you're concerned enough about them that you hide whenever this guy drives by, I think you should make sure the threats are properly documented.