Light bulb feud sparks $80,000 in fines, fees

***Jolie77*** · 02-07-2008, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Light bulb feud sparks $80,000 in fines, fees

Carol Sowers
The Arizona Republic
Feb. 6, 2008 08:10 AM

Sandra Shelton, a spirited 67-year-old widow of Scottsdale, has wrangled with her homeowners' association for more than two years over what she calls her "$80,000 light bulb."

Shelton smiles when she says it.

But she's not laughing.

She faces more than $30,000 in unpaid fines, and another $50,000 in legal costs, after she was sued for a bright light that shines in her backyard.

The feud started in November 2005 when Shelton - afraid for her daughter's life - added a third security light to the back of her home in the swank Scottsdale Mountain neighborhood, overlooking the Mayo Clinic near 136th Street and Shea Boulevard.

It's an isolated community at the south end of the McDowell Mountains where the desert night is relatively undisturbed by the Valley's city lights.

Joe and Elayne Reichbach said their bedroom once was comfortably dark despite a wall-sized window.

"We had no idea the (first two) lights were there (until) 2005," Reichbach said. "Now, they are on all the time."

Neighbors say light is blinding. The Reichbach's live 100 yards across an arroyo from Shelton's home.

But even at that distance, they say the lights from Shelton's security system are intolerable.

"I've had to move to another bedroom in the house," Elayne Reichbach said.

The Reichbach's complained to the Scottsdale Mountain Community Association, which oversees the rules in their exclusive north Scottsdale community.

The association agrees with the Reichbach's. Members call Shelton's system "a nuisance."

But Shelton calls it a "matter-of-life and death."

She says the lights and cameras are vital to protecting her 45-year-old daughter from a stalker.

The association ordered Shelton to shut off the lights. She refused.

With no settlement in sight, the association in April 2006 began fining Shelton $50 a day.

So far, the fines have grown to more than $30,000 - and the lights are still on.

Shelton says she has replaced the system twice, angling the lights downward and encasing them to shield the light.

"I have done everything possible to appease the (association) board," she said.

Impatient with the pace of the feud, the association sued Shelton in 2006 for refusing to pay her fines.

Foreclosure is association goal. The suit asks Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Robert Houser to slap a lien on Shelton's house. The association intends to foreclose on it.

During a day-long trial in January, Rodney Knight, the association's lawyer, told Houser the battle has lingered too long.

"The lights are still on," Knight said.

Ivy Kushner, Shelton's lawyer, told Houser there are no association rules on exterior lights.

Knight shot back: The rules "didn't exclude lighting."

On the witness stand, Shelton told Knight, "You have been hounding, and hounding me."

Knight asked her why she hadn't turned off the lights.

"Because I was afraid my daughter would be murdered," Shelton said.

Still, Shelton admitted on the stand that she had agreed that her lights "were bright." She had been to the Reichbach's home last year during a meeting with association officials.

After that meeting, Shelton had the lights re-positioned. She offered to buy the Reichbach's drapes and blinds for their bedroom window.

Desire for spectacular sunrises
The Reichbach's refused, saying they wanted to wake up to the sunrise and spectacular mountain views through their huge bedroom window.

"The beauty of living in Scottsdale Mountain is watching the sun come up," Joe Reichbach said.

Two electricians, who re-configured Shelton's security system, testified that the Reichbach's would notice the lights. But because they are angled downward, they should not shine directly into the bedroom from 100 yards across an arroyo.

Joe Reichbach disagrees. He said the modifications didn't help: "We can't sleep."

Judge Houser has yet to rule in the case. But he gave the parties this warning: "This is going to cost someone a lot of money. I urge you to settle."

Light bulb feud sparks $80,000 in fines, fees

Wow. The fine is currently at $80k and it will continue to grow if both parties doesn't settle.

So, was it too much for the HOA to ask her to put motion sensors on the lights? That way anything larger than say a garbage can sized item moving within range sets it off and a timer so the lights go back off after 10-15 minutes? Was that too much? Is it too much to put a motion sensor on the security lights?

I'm half and half on this one; I think the light-woman is way too paranoid about someone stalking her adult daughter (I'm sure there isn't even a stalker, nor was there ever one), but such huge fines are ridiculous. However, if you knew you were being fined every day sometimes you just have to take the light out and then you can keep complaining.

People have to remember not to piss off their neighbors, and an intensely bright light would piss off a lot of people (myself included).

Banjo · 02-07-2008, 08:16 PM

I know exactly what these people are talking about. She need a motion sensor for these lights. Seriously, it's frickin' annoying when someone never turn off the lights especially if the light shines directly through your bedroom at night.

Ugh. Yes, I could just close the curtains but believe it or not, some of these lights still manage to creep through the curtains if it's bright enough. Or worse, if you have blinds, that's a big problem. She should get a motion sensor or turn it off. Plus it's a waste of electricity.

shel90 · 02-07-2008, 08:23 PM

We dont know the story behind this...if there is a stalker and has terrorized this family, then I can understand the mother's paranoia about her daughter being murdered.

I used to live in Phx, AZ and I know Camelback Mountain..it is very dark up there. It would be easy for a predator/burgular to get around.

Why cant the HOA assocation and neighbors work with this woman to find a solution instead of fining her?

Just seems kinda drastic.

Banjo · 02-07-2008, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shel90

Why cant the HOA assocation and neighbors work with this woman to find a solution instead of fining her?

Just seems kinda drastic.

I agree, what they did was very stupid. I mean, $80,000? Come on.

They could just buy her a motion sensor and everybody should be happy.

***Jolie77*** · 02-07-2008, 08:43 PM

Banjo and Shel,

I agree with both of you. The motion sensors are a solution for 2 reasons.

1) It saves electricity.

2) It is not on all the time to annoy the neighbors.

$80k seems drastic, that's for sure.

And as for the media reporting the stories like this one, They tend to portray the story to a different light. If there was actually a stalker hanging out, why wasn't it presented in the court asking questions like - :Were the police called out? Was a neighborhood watch group around as well?", etc. in the article? That is because the media wants to keep their audience at it's best.

shel90 · 02-07-2008, 08:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jolie_77

Banjo and Shel,

I agree with both of you. The motion sensors are a solution for 2 reasons.

1) It saves electricity.

2) It is not on all the time to annoy the neighbors.

$80k seems drastic, that's for sure.

And as for the media reporting the stories like this one, They tend to portray the story to a different light. If there was actually a stalker hanging out, why wasn't it presented in the court asking questions like - :Were the police called out? Was a neighborhood watch group around as well?", etc. in the article? That is because the media wants to keep their audience at it's best.

I think this article was about the fued. Maybe there was a separate article about stalking. One thing I do know if my daughter was being stalked and her life was in constant danger, I would be paranoid.

Babyblue · 02-08-2008, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Banjo

I know exactly what these people are talking about. She need a motion sensor for these lights. Seriously, it's frickin' annoying when someone never turn off the lights especially if the light shines directly through your bedroom at night.

Ugh. Yes, I could just close the curtains but believe it or not, some of these lights still manage to creep through the curtains if it's bright enough. Or worse, if you have blinds, that's a big problem. She should get a motion sensor or turn it off. Plus it's a waste of electricity.

I agree and a motion sensor will freak out a trespasser more than a light that is on all the time... I have moition sensor lights in my yard and the lights come one when some one comes in... it allows me to know someone is here...and if the trespasser sees a light coming on all of a sudden they will more than likely to run. Thinking someone saw them or caught them...

sara1981 · 02-08-2008, 09:54 PM

WOW!

mostly owners homes mustly get off lights all the times they cant stay light on! its so important.

owners must pay bills every monthly for lights its so important!

MUST light off during daytimes and night when leave home or work never leave light they can fine the electricity more lots of money that no jokes!

shel90 · 02-08-2008, 09:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Babyblue

I agree and a motion sensor will freak out a trespasser more than a light that is on all the time... I have moition sensor lights in my yard and the lights come one when some one comes in... it allows me to know someone is here...and if the trespasser sees a light coming on all of a sudden they will more than likely to run. Thinking someone saw them or caught them...

Yea, that is why this whole thing doesnt make sense. Why doesnt the woman get that in the first place or the HOA suggest it? How did it get to this point where $80,000 is at sake?

sequoias · 02-08-2008, 10:57 PM

Wow, that's an energy hog! That's sad for that owner who never thought of that.

RedheadGrrl · 02-10-2008, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Babyblue

I agree and a motion sensor will freak out a trespasser more than a light that is on all the time... I have moition sensor lights in my yard and the lights come one when some one comes in... it allows me to know someone is here...and if the trespasser sees a light coming on all of a sudden they will more than likely to run. Thinking someone saw them or caught them...

I agree with you. I have it. When It went back on, I looked out of the window. It was cat or raccoon or any little wild animals. It annoyed me. I had to turn it off when I go to bed.

farewell65 · 02-13-2008, 08:03 AM

80k? thats alot...

CCfan · 02-13-2008, 10:13 PM

What a funny stupid news ever I read in my life.

This is best weird out that make me laughing roll on the floor. But I feel
bad for Sandra that she would want to protect her daughter from getting murder by a stalker.

02-07-2008, 08:23 PM	#3 (permalink)
shel90 Sun Whorshipper Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: A Desert Rat that has found herself in Maryland Posts: 12,558 Blog Entries: 1	We dont know the story behind this...if there is a stalker and has terrorized this family, then I can understand the mother's paranoia about her daughter being murdered. I used to live in Phx, AZ and I know Camelback Mountain..it is very dark up there. It would be easy for a predator/burgular to get around. Why cant the HOA assocation and neighbors work with this woman to find a solution instead of fining her? Just seems kinda drastic. __________________ ~Shel~

02-07-2008, 08:43 PM	#5 (permalink)
*Jolie77* Truth does not blush. Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: The Bluegrass State Posts: 3,942	Banjo and Shel, I agree with both of you. The motion sensors are a solution for 2 reasons. 1) It saves electricity. 2) It is not on all the time to annoy the neighbors. $80k seems drastic, that's for sure. And as for the media reporting the stories like this one, They tend to portray the story to a different light. If there was actually a stalker hanging out, why wasn't it presented in the court asking questions like - :Were the police called out? Was a neighborhood watch group around as well?", etc. in the article? That is because the media wants to keep their audience at it's best. __________________

02-08-2008, 09:54 PM	#8 (permalink)
sara1981 Batista's Fans Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: North Little Rock,Ar Posts: 2,662	WOW! mostly owners homes mustly get off lights all the times they cant stay light on! its so important. owners must pay bills every monthly for lights its so important! MUST light off during daytimes and night when leave home or work never leave light they can fine the electricity more lots of money that no jokes! __________________

02-08-2008, 10:57 PM	#10 (permalink)
sequoias Swifty the Rat Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: The Evergreen State Posts: 10,954	Wow, that's an energy hog! That's sad for that owner who never thought of that. __________________ created by seq

02-13-2008, 08:03 AM	#12 (permalink)
farewell65 LOL at Homer Simpson Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Washington, DC Posts: 3,634	80k? thats alot... __________________ CM Punk=WHC! Thank You, Ric Flair!!

Today
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02-07-2008, 08:16 PM	#2 (permalink)
Banjo Mr. Movie Guy Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 4,834 Blog Entries: 1	I know exactly what these people are talking about. She need a motion sensor for these lights. Seriously, it's frickin' annoying when someone never turn off the lights especially if the light shines directly through your bedroom at night. Ugh. Yes, I could just close the curtains but believe it or not, some of these lights still manage to creep through the curtains if it's bright enough. Or worse, if you have blinds, that's a big problem. She should get a motion sensor or turn it off. Plus it's a waste of electricity.

02-13-2008, 10:13 PM	#13 (permalink)
CCfan Registered User Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: St. Paul, MN Posts: 818	What a funny stupid news ever I read in my life. This is best weird out that make me laughing roll on the floor. But I feel bad for Sandra that she would want to protect her daughter from getting murder by a stalker. __________________ I am closed captioning fan.

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