A woman in Australia who maintains a strictly vegan diet is currently in a year-long one-sided legal battle with her next door neighbor over the smell of barbecue.
Yes, you read that right.
The woman, Cilla Carden, says that her neighbor, Toan Vu and his family, “willfully and knowingly” let barbecue smells into her back garden, leaving her unable to use it.
She told Nine News: “They’ve put it there so I smell fish, all I can smell is fish… I can’t go out there.”
Carden first took Vu and his wife – and their kids – to court in late 2018, but it was rejected because there is no evidence to her claim. It was rejected a second time by the Supreme Court in July.
Not only does Carden accuse the Vu family of maliciously barbecuing, she also complains about the smell of cigarettes and the sound of the children playing with their basketballs.
Of the situation, Carden says, “It’s been devastating, it’s been turmoil, it’s been unrest, I haven’t been able to sleep.“
Vu has done everything he can to keep the peace, even moving his barbecue grill and having his kids play basketball elsewhere. Despite Vu’s cooperation, Carden says she will continue the fight against him.
She also complained about the neighbors on the other side of her house, but they wanted to stay anonymous. They did tell 9 News, “Ms Carden’s demands were proven to be not reasonable and indeed were to the detriment of the other owners’ ability to enjoy their lots in a reasonable and acceptable manner.”
Watch the news report below.