Dispute Over Piano Lessons Leads to $40,000 Award

SELAH, Wash. (AP) – A state appeals court says a Selah man so outrageously tormented his neighbor by revving his truck engine for months because he didn’t want her to teach piano lessons that $40,000 she was awarded was justified.

The Yakima Herald-Republic reports in a published 2-1 ruling filed Tuesday, a panel of the Spokane-based Division III Court of Appeals found that Paul Patnode’s actions against Junghee Kim Spicer’s Yakima Arts Academy warranted the award.

Court documents say the inharmonious relationship started in 2012, when Spicer increased the number of piano lessons she gave.

From November 2015 through March 2016, Patnode parked his Ford F-250 diesel pickup next to Spicer’s home, and remotely raced the engine and set off the vehicle’s alarm when students came over.

Spicer sued Patnode and Yakima County Superior Court Judge Gayle Harthcock ordered Patnode to pay $40,000 for emotional distress.
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Information from: Yakima Herald-Republic, http://www.yakimaherald.com