I understand your determination to go after your neighbor......I even before I experienced a PTSD situation fought against what I knew wasn't right.....however, I didn't win either. Went after a Workman's comp case against the company I was working for....several years with one lawyer & then he got sick (heart issues) & passed me off to an incompetent workman's comp lawyer & more years of depositions that would get cancelled & every time I ended up in the psych hospital with ungodly medical expenses......& I lost the case anyway. Then another case was against the guy who sold me the mare....told me that he didn't bring the papers with the horse when he delivered her....also had said that she had never been bred....I lost 5 foals with that mare & oh, she never had papers. Had a lawyer that would represent me, but I also had to do all the work....but he didn't tell me that upfront either.....we ended up taking it to mediation & I managed to loose that one....added to the expensive useless mare I ended up owning & the lower cost lawyer. Have had a bad experience. Guess that is why I am so hesitant to go after the painter that ripped me off when I moved here......& then the guy that installed my new heat pump was judgment proof in the first place....so I never bothered to go after him after talking with the lawyer that I had do all the paperwork for the LLC of my farm......I still have the a year to talk with a lawyer & see if there it will be worth going after the painter, but right now I have NO MONEY. I can't even get the guy to pay me from my small claims judgment....& the second criminal pre-trial conference (I am using the county attorney for this so there is no cost....or at least they haven't said there is) is November 3 which gave him an extra 30 days to come up with the money.....then I guess if it doesn't they will schedule the trial at the next hearing (?). I have had such bad look of getting anything even when I do win that it's not done anything for my emotions. I still believe that it's important for people to stand behind their actions & if they aren't willing to on their own.....I have always felt it was important to go after them & hold them responsible......so I really understand where your emotions are driving you.

I think the Byz has offered you some very wonderful information on how to proceed with your case......it just sounds like the lawyer you have is milking you for your money getting more for his retirement & not producing anything in favor of you. I would be as unhappy with your lawyer as I would be with your neighbor. Taking your money & not giving you decent representation is unacceptable. I don't know if he thinks the case can't be won or what.....but that should have been an upfront comment on his part when he took on the case. Yes, one never really knows, but the thing is after so many years of experience, they have a feeling for it & the other lawyers not wanting to take the case tends to make me think that it might not be a case even though it stands in court.....many lawyers have told me in certain circumstances that a case isn't worth the time they have to put into it for the money that can be collected. It doesn't sound like that's the case in your situation however.

I agree with JD......it's important to just deal with the facts in your situation, the reality of the case.....& leave the emotions on the sideline. Easier said than done, but I know when you don't, it tends to mess up the case more than help. Know it was hard for me with the Workman's comp case because I was emotionally where I was because of what happened.......& it was the reason for the case.......I know that might be added into your case....but you have so much factual things going on that need to be focused on that the case is based on. Think stepping back & taking the whole thing into perspective might be a good thing to do at this time....that doesn't mean giving up....it means regrooping & figuring out what strategy you need to proceed with because it's obvious, the way you are going right now seems to be heading you for a complete meltdown & what good would you be to the law suit if that were to happen.....you would only end up being forced to give up because you couldn't proceed.

I know that the opposing party usually likes to mess the whole thing up so that it's hard to focus & make everything perfectly clear......seems that right now it's all a can of worms that needs to be sorted out & the lawyer you are dealing with needs to be up front & honest with you in the direction he's proceeding so that you can determine if he's even capable of representing you.....which IMO from the sounds of what you have written, HE IS NOT.

Think the information that the Byz has presented to you needs your looking into. Stop spinning your wheels with the PTSD stuff & the CSA....yes, it has an effect on you, but you need to be in control in situations like this & you are letting that stuff get in your way also. If you really want to proceed, you also need to take a break & get yourself together. Think your T probably senses that your lack of control is building up more & more & that's why he has suggested you throw it out for other input.....which was very wise on his part.......but your focus needs to be on the facts of the law suit......sometimes we just have to put the other crap that has happened in our life on the side line while we focus on what we really need to focus on. It's not easy, but it needs to be done if you really want to successfully proceed with this law suit IMO.

I understand your emotions & yes, they are valid feeling, but there comes a point where emotions need to be reined in & brough under control just like you would with a horse that gets out of control....one either reines them under control or one bales off the horse to keep from getting further hurt in the long run. We have to do the same with ourselves at times also. Don't know if you have done any DBT work, but the wise mind where you look at the whole picture (not just your side), look at your emotions & look at your rational mind & come up with the appropriate plan to proceed. Distress tolerance also helps when the distress becomes so great. Even a small vacation or at least distincing one's self from the problem for awhile so that you can come back & see it more clearly to give your emotions on this a break. I don't know, but it seems like the defence will try to take the most advantage of your emotional state in order to cause you to loose.....which is always what their purpose is in the first place....but when you give them something to take advantage of.....THEY WILL & they are usually trained to sense & take advantage of anything they can.

I can really feel for the situation you are in & I know that I would be standing up against a neighbor that did what your neighbor did & is doing to you.....for starters, can you get a restraining order on him & his animals (lol....never heard of a restraining order on animals....but who knows?).....know it's not the terms that one wants to have with their neighbor & I am sorry that this is happening......sadly, seems that all too ofter things like this do happen. I know how much it hurts to loose a member of our family & I know my animals are not just animals.....they are MY FAMILY.....but in your case they are your business & it's the business side of it that you HAVE TO FOCUS ON.....& stay focused on. You can let your emotions back in the picture when you have completed your task of winning the law suit. The thing is that whether we allow our emotions to get in the way is really only under our own control & even with PTSD or CSA, we can recognize that our emotions come from that....acknowledge that they are what they are & then get DOWN TO BUSINESS & let your rational mind be in control. It takes focus & determination.....but the need is there & sometimes we just have to do what we need to do....then fall apart later after we have completed what we need to complete.

Sending you 's & my understanding & a lot of strength....look to God for your strength & direction.....that guidance will never fail.