A neighbor dispute that started with a property line and a backyard build ended with Baton Rouge Metro Councilman Cleve Dunn Jr. ordered to pay more than $20,000—an expensive reminder of how fast “just a fence” can turn into years of court fights when drainage and permits get involved.
The latest update came this week from WBRZ in the source post, reporting that a hearing tied to the civil case was continued in the 19th Judicial District Court, without a new date set.
The disagreement started with a property line, a fence, and a cabana
The case involves Dunn and his former neighbors, Donna and Eugene Michelli, who sued over a dispute related to a property line, a fence, and a cabana. WBRZ reports the Michellis said the cabana construction was unpermitted.
For homeowners anywhere—Texas included—this is the kind of scenario that can sneak up on people. A fence line might feel like a simple “measure and build” job, but when a structure goes in near a boundary, every inch matters, especially if it changes how water moves during heavy rain.
The Michellis said the construction led to flooding at their home
According to the report, the Michellis claimed the construction caused their home to flood in May 2021. Flooding allegations are often where these disputes stop being a neighborhood argument and start becoming a money fight, because the costs can stack up quickly—cleanup, repairs, lost use of parts of the home, and potential insurance complications…