What does this mean?

jld

I found a letter taped to my building this morning. Usually I'm good at interpreting legaleze, but I'm not sure what this means. Any thoughts? It's a 4 unit apartment building.

It's been stamped by the King County Superior Court Clerk

To: My Landlord, Landlord's CO LLP

and all persons of interest:

Issues regarding legal residency of the above individuals and the legality of their corporate entity in addition to a dispute as to legal ownership and possible foreclosure proceedings related to the property at [my address] Seattle WA are pending.

Please read the following carefully.

Signed [The woman who lives upstairs from me]

Then, next to it is a handwritten note... as best as I can read it...

Friday 11/14/8

The property located at [my address] Seattle, WA by adverse possession, is mine.

Signed, [Woman who lives upstairs from me] unit #3

Anyone attempting to enter these premises without my prior written or verbal permission (i.e. illegally) will be subject to immediate and permanent penalty and damage.

jld

Here's a pic of the handwritten note.

Edit: I've removed the picture.

jon

Your fruitcake neighbor has been living there so long without paying rent that she is now claiming that she owns her apartment by adverse possession.

Stay as far away from her as you can. Since she is threatening you with some penalty, you need to talk to the police, not a website.

jld

Hmm, yes, now I realize that's the case. I didn't realize the illegible word is 'mine'.

I'd be surprised if she could make an adverse possession claim against my landlord for my unit, since she hasn't been in occupation or control of this part of the property but I'm no lawyer. I'll have to figure out what the deal is.

buyStocks

I'd be worried about her use of the word "damage".

Markor

Adverse possession against an apartment building w/ tenants would be an interesting legal case. It's unlikely she really has possession; this Wikipedia link lists the conditions she must have met. I agree with Jon, if I found that notice on my door, I'd file a harrassment complaint with the police. She needs to make her case in court, not personally or threateningly.

jld

WA state requires possession of property for at least 7 years before having a valid adverse possession claim. Since the building was built in 2004 or 2005 I believe, it seems like a valid claim is unlikely if not impossible.

Regarding where the note was found, it was not on or near my unit and has been up for a week or so without me noticing. The whole building shares the same address so I don't believe she's trying to make in any regard to my unit. I don't think she means me any harm and has been quite pleasant the times we've run into each other.

I spoke to the owner and he said that the tenant is in the process of getting evicted. She's making this claim based on the fact that she believes the owner is an illegal alien which is not true. This woman seems to have some crazy ideas in her head.

Regardless, apparently she'll be getting evicted soon and I'll do my best to stay out of her way.

WestSideBilly

I read that as "If anyone enters my apartment to evict me, I'm going to shoot them."

Bold to emphasize that she seems to think she owns it.