Neighbour Dispute Mediation

1. Mediator · turn 1

   Good afternoon, Mr Lai. My name is Tim Wilson, and I’ll be looking after your case today. Please take a seat, and we can get started.

   下午好，黎先生。我叫Tim Wilson，今天會由我負責您的個案。請坐，我們可以開始了。

2. Client · turn 2

   謝謝你見我。我住在這個社區十多年了，從來沒有跟鄰居發生過任何問題。現在發生了這種事情，真的讓我很頭痛。

   Thank you for seeing me. I’ve lived in this community for more than ten years and have never had any problems with my neighbours. What has happened now is giving me a real headache.

3. Mediator · turn 3

   I have read your file. It says that your neighbour, Bob Matt, used a chainsaw to cut down the tree on the boundary between your property and his without asking for your permission. Is that correct?

   我已經看過您的檔案。檔案指出，您的鄰居Bob Matt未經您同意，便使用鏈鋸砍掉了位於你們兩處物業邊界上的樹。這正確嗎？

4. Client · turn 4

   沒錯。上星期四，他連一個電話都沒有打，就把那棵樹砍了。他也沒有把樹枝和樹幹清理乾淨，弄得滿地都是。後來他還把樹樁和樹根都挖了出來，結果把下水管道弄壞了。

   That’s correct. Last Thursday, he cut down the tree without even making a phone call. He didn’t properly clear away the branches or trunk and left them all over the ground. Afterwards, he also dug out the stump and roots, damaging the sewer pipe in the process.

5. Mediator · turn 5

   I see. Do you have any idea why he would do such a thing? Did he speak to you afterwards? Or did you try to negotiate with him in person about these issues?

   明白。您知道他為甚麼會這樣做嗎？他事後有跟您談過嗎？或者，您有沒有嘗試親自就這些問題與他協商？

6. Client · turn 6

   他說那棵樹的樹枝伸到他家的院子裡，掉了很多樹葉，還擋住了陽光，所以他覺得有權把樹砍掉。我當場跟他理論，可是他一直說這棵樹影響了他的生活，還說不用經過我的同意。

   He said the tree’s branches extended into his yard, dropped many leaves and blocked the sunlight, so he believed he had the right to cut it down. I argued with him at the scene, but he kept saying the tree affected his life and that he didn’t need my permission.

7. Mediator · turn 7

   Did you explain to him that the tree was jointly owned because it was on the boundary? Did he acknowledge that?

   您有沒有向他解釋，因為這棵樹位於邊界上，所以屬於雙方共同擁有？他有承認這一點嗎？

8. Client · turn 8

   我當然有說。我還拿出了當初買房時的土地測量圖給他看，可是他根本不願意看。他一直說只要樹枝伸進他的院子，他就有權處理。

   Of course I told him. I even showed him the land survey plan from when I bought the house, but he refused to look at it. He kept saying that, as long as the branches extended into his yard, he had the right to deal with them.

9. Mediator · turn 9

   Apart from the damaged sewer pipe, was there any other property damage?

   除了受損的下水管道外，還有其他財產損壞嗎？

10. Client · turn 10

    有。挖土機把我家的灑水系統也弄壞了，草坪被翻得亂七八糟，而且圍欄旁邊的花圃也被壓壞了。我後來找水管工和園丁來檢查，他們估計維修費大概要四千五百澳元。

    Yes. The excavator also damaged my sprinkler system, tore up the lawn and crushed the flower bed beside the fence. I later asked a plumber and gardener to inspect the damage, and they estimated that the repairs would cost approximately 4,500 Australian dollars.

11. Mediator · turn 11

    Have you obtained any written quotations, invoices or photographs of the damage?

    您有取得任何書面報價、發票或損壞情況的照片嗎？

12. Client · turn 12

    有，我拍了很多照片，也請了兩家公司提供書面報價。我今天把照片、報價單和水管工的報告都帶來了。

    Yes. I took many photographs and asked two companies to provide written quotations. I brought the photographs, quotations and plumber’s report with me today.

13. Mediator · turn 13

    Excellent. Those documents will be very helpful. Have you contacted your home insurance provider?

    很好。這些文件會非常有幫助。您有聯絡家居保險公司嗎？

14. Client · turn 14

    有，不過保險公司說，如果可以先透過調解解決，他們希望我們先嘗試調解。如果最後真的談不攏，他們才會正式處理理賠。

    Yes, but the insurance company said that, if the matter could first be resolved through mediation, they wanted us to try mediation. They would formally handle the claim only if we ultimately failed to reach an agreement.

15. Mediator · turn 15

    That’s understandable. Community mediation aims to help both parties reach a mutually acceptable agreement without going to court. Everything discussed during mediation is confidential, and my role is to remain impartial. I won’t be taking sides.

    這是可以理解的。社區調解旨在協助雙方達成彼此都能接受的協議，而無需訴諸法院。調解期間討論的所有內容均屬保密，而我的職責是保持公正，不會偏袒任何一方。

16. Client · turn 16

    我明白。我其實也不想把事情鬧大。我們畢竟還要繼續當鄰居。如果他願意承認責任，賠償維修費，再向我道歉，我願意和解。

    I understand. I don’t actually want the matter to escalate, as we still have to continue living as neighbours. If he is willing to accept responsibility, pay the repair costs and apologise to me, I’m willing to settle.

17. Mediator · turn 17

    That’s a constructive approach. During the mediation session, I’ll give both of you an opportunity to explain your perspectives without interruption. I’ll then help you explore possible options for resolving the dispute.

    這是很有建設性的態度。在調解會議上，我會給你們雙方機會，在不受打斷的情況下說明各自的觀點，然後協助你們探討解決糾紛的可行方案。

18. Client · turn 18

    如果他還是不願意承認呢？

    What if he still refuses to accept responsibility?

19. Mediator · turn 19

    If an agreement can’t be reached, mediation will simply end without a resolution. You may then wish to seek independent legal advice or consider taking the matter to the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal or another appropriate legal forum, depending on the circumstances.

    如果無法達成協議，調解便會在沒有解決方案的情況下結束。屆時，視乎具體情況，您可以考慮尋求獨立法律意見，或將事件提交新南威爾士州民事及行政審裁處或其他合適的法律機構處理。

20. Client · turn 20

    希望不用走到那一步。我只是希望把事情公平地解決，大家以後可以和平相處。

    I hope it won’t come to that. I only want the matter to be resolved fairly so that everyone can live together peacefully in the future.

21. Mediator · turn 21

    That’s a reasonable objective. I’ll contact your neighbour to arrange a mediation session. In the meantime, please keep all receipts, quotations and any further evidence relating to the damage.

    這是合理的目標。我會聯絡您的鄰居安排調解會議。在此期間，請保留所有收據、報價及任何與損壞有關的進一步證據。

22. Client · turn 22

    好的，謝謝你。我希望這件事可以盡快解決。

    All right. Thank you. I hope this matter can be resolved as soon as possible.

This is the read-only transcript view, for reviewing before or after a practice session.