Meridian church sues longtime neighbor, who says: ‘We did not do that'

Yahoo

4 days ago

Alleging an intrusive shed, a protruding carport and sprinkler damage, a Meridian church has taken legal action against a longtime neighbor.
In a lawsuit filed in Ada County District Court in late April, Meridian Missionary Baptist Church accused Alicia D. Williams of property damage in excess of $1,000, according to court records obtained by the Idaho Statesman.
The suit was filed under Idaho Code 6-202, which addresses civil trespassing.
Meridian Missionary Baptist, which is seeking a jury trial, sits on the corner of Meridian Road and East Carlton Avenue in a mixed residential area near downtown Meridian. The defendant's house, which Williams says she has occupied for 19 years along with her husband, borders the church to the east.
The church claims it proceeded with the lawsuit after speaking on 'numerous occasions' with Williams and another occupant of the home, and later sending letters on April 29, 2024, and Sept. 16, 2024. Those letters, according to the lawsuit, went unacknowledged by the defendant, and no action was taken to rectify the damage or the 'general trespassing issues.'
In official filings responding to the lawsuit, Williams denied the allegations and asked that the case be dismissed.
'We got a letter a few years back asking if they could buy our house because they wanted to make a bigger parking lot,' Williams told the Idaho Statesman. 'We did not sell, and then in the last couple of years, they've started with these couple of complaint letters.'
One big issue in the case will involve ownership of a fence. According to the lawsuit, the Williamses erected a shed against the church's fence. The roof of the shed sits on the fence, causing damage, and protrudes onto church property, the suit claims.
'That fence is legally ours. We're legally permitted to build anything we want against our own fence,' Alicia Williams said. 'And if it's sagging a little and needs some repair, that's on us as well, but that has nothing to do with them.'
The defendant also is accused of building an RV carport that juts onto church property, and in doing so killed the arborvitae that are planted along the fence line.
Alicia and her husband, John Timothy Williams II, say the carport is permitted and legal, and said the church was actually responsible for damaging the trees.
'What's amazing about that is we watched them cut those trees,' Alicia said. 'We did not do that.'
The lawsuit also alleges that Williams tore up and broke the church's sprinkler heads.
John Williams told the Statesman that he did accidentally run over one of the church's sprinklers, and then offered to fix it, but was told there was no need.
The church is asking for reimbursement for alleged damages and the cost associated with investigating the trespass, injunctive relief to prevent future harm and cost of attorney's fees.
'Defendant's actions herein constitute a substantial interference with the Church and Plaintiff's real property and were intentional and unreasonable in character,' the lawsuit alleges. 'Defendant's actions herein constitute an obstruction to the Plaintiff's free use of its property, so as to interfere with its comfortable enjoyment of its real property.'
Meridian Missionary Baptist Church has hired Eagle attorney Matthew C. Williams, while the defendant has chosen to represent herself, according to court records.
A church representative told the Statesman that it would not comment on ongoing litigation, but later offered to provide a written statement, which the Statesman has not received.
Reporter Rose Evans contributed to this story.