Wind Chime Blow Up; Three LA Residents Sue Neighbor Over Noise

Three East Hollywood residents are suing a neighbor who they say has installed large wind chimes that keep them awake at night.

Michelle Buhler could not be reached for comment on the nuisance suit filed by Robin Shorr and Tim and Laura Wild, who want a judge to issue a preliminary injunction against the defendant.

The plaintiffs' attorney, Richard Stoll, declined to confirm whether Shorr and Buhler, respectively, are the Hollywood producer and "Pulp Fiction" makeup artists by the same names.

According to the complaint, Buhler installed two sets of cathedral-sized chimes between her Ronda Vista Drive home and the properties of the plaintiffs. All of the homes in the area are close together and located on a hillside that amplifies the sound of the chimes, according to the lawsuit.

"When there is even a small amount of wind, the wind chime noise is so loud that plaintiffs are forced to wear earplugs at night and the Wilds have had to turn on fans and ... noise machines in an attempt to drown out the noise," the suit says. "The Wilds have even been forced to sleep in other parts of their home."

Shorr has also had to wear earplugs during the day when she works from home in order to cope with the sound of the chimes, according to the complaint.

Both the Wilds and Shorr have asked Buhler to correct the problem, according to their complaint.

"Buhler either ignores them completely or takes the chimes down temporarily only to install them a short time later," the suit alleges.

Shorr and the Wilds called the police about the problem and Buhler removed the chimes for a time, but put them back up shortly thereafter, according to the plaintiffs, who say they also sent Buhler's attorney a letter and video recordings demonstrating the noise issue.

"Unfortunately, plaintiffs' numerous efforts and requests have been futile and Buhler refuses to remove the chimes," the suit says.

The suit also alleges Buhler rents out a downstairs unit in her home despite the single-family home zoning code and that her tenants -- most of them males who stay for a short time -- access an entrance that passes in front of Shorr's bathroom window.

—City News Service

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