What is the name of your state?
Missouri.
here is my case:
I got a legal problem and tomorrow I will consult an attorney but before everything, I really hope somebody can give some idea.
I just purchased an apartment building couple of days ago, when my
inspector went to attic in one unit, tenant of that unit was not there,
I was down there to hold the ladder for him, in that narrow space, I had to look downwards because in front of my face was wall. I unintentionally saw a bill statement saying "serious delinquency" sth like that. and I asked the seller, did the tenant pay the rents on time? the seller asked why ,and I said I noticed a delinquency note. I finally bought that apartment and I don't know for what reason, the seller called the tenant who lives there and told her that "I went through her belongings and peeked her privacy" and she is very mad at me, saying that she is gonna sue me for " privacy violation" , also, she said I committed an "federal offense" by delivering paperwork to her mailbox, she said I can mail it but can't physically touch her mailbox. She said the seller and realtor were all there and can go to court as witnesses. God, I never meet the tenant before, and I really don't have any interests in her stuff. Before I purchased the property, I pointed out that the seller showed me some fake numbers in the income-cost profile sheet and I guess this is the reason she called the tenants , provoking the fight between tenant and me.
What can I do ? what is the consequence if I am found guilty?
I didn't even touch anything, the delinquent bill was in front of my face, and unless I closed my eyes, otherwise I had to see it.
Is delievering paperwork to tenants' mailbox a "federal offense"?
Please advise , I understand your advice is not formal and I will finally consult with a professional lawyer but please give me some of your ideas!
Thank you!
btw:When I saw that bill, the inspector was in attic and he didn't see anything. but realtor can be a witness, she was behind me standing
together with the owner.
Also, when this thing happened, I was not even a landlord, I was
just a potential buyer, the owner and realtor let me in there.
they let me stood in front of that letters and after I saw that bill,
they physically picked up and studied over. I just saw it and I didn't
touch it.
also, I don't think delinquency bill is so private because I notice another delinquent bill hang on a door knob of another unit which everybody
can see.
seems if that information is so private, how come the
utility company put the bill and disconnection notice
in such a public place?