Vegan Takes Her Neighbors To Court Due To Smell From Their Barbecues

Sep 26, 2020

Depending on who your neighbors are, you may either find it easy or a serious challenge to always keep the peace. While many people find themselves being forced to quiet down their loud activities or get rid of their animals, some homeowners in Australia are finding themselves faced with a bizarre situation–they are caught up in a legal battle that started in 2018, as they're being sued by their neighbor, Cilla Carden, because of their fondness for barbecuing in their backyard.

Cilla Carden, a vegan that lives in Perth, Australia, is so offended by her meat-eating neighbors that she is taking them to court to deal with the smells that are emitted during their backyard barbecues, according to 9News.

Carden is a massage therapist who not only chooses to avoid meat but is so repulsed by it that she believes her neighbors are destroying her outdoor experience, making it impossible for her to enjoy her own yard without smelling the fish that they are cooking next door.

This legal battle between Carden and her neighbors, Toan Vu, and his family, started in 2018 and so far Carden’s claims have been thrown out of court twice due to a lack of evidence. Carden is claiming that the Vu family is barbecuing deliberately in order to annoy her; however, her claims are almost impossible to prove, according to the Telegraph. 

The smell of meat isn’t the only thing that makes Carden upset; she’s also disgusted that the Vu family smokes cigarettes and complains that their children are too noisy when they play basketball in their yard. In an attempt to try to appease her, Toan Vu put away his grill and also limited the areas where his children could play basketball. But, despite his efforts, Carden is not satisfied.

"It's been devastating, it's been turmoil, it's been unrest, I haven't been able to sleep," she told 9News.

Meanwhile, the Vu family are not the only ones Ms. Carden has been focussing on–she has also tried to take action against other neighbors.

Carden lost her case at both the tribunal court and the Supreme Court of Western Australia. According to The Independent, meat-lovers even considered doing a meat-cooking session outside her front door. The Independent also states that more than 2,000 people had said they would attend the "Community BBQ." 

What do you think of this rather bizarre story? We should always try not to disturb our neighbors but do you think this woman is taking things a bit too far, and are people taking their retaliation too far, too? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.