Charlotte Kullen at her apartment in The Rutherford with Sofia her service dog.
Ms. Kullen's bathroom cabinet holds medication prescribed for anxiety and other conditions. She believes her declining health is tied to her neighbor Meril Lesser's parrots and the financial and legal fallout that followed her noise complaints.
Jim Ramadei, The Rutherford's board president, noted that Ms. Lesser arrived at her deposition with a jar of parrot feathers which she claimed had a soothing presence for her.
Close to Union Square and Gramercy Park, Charlotte’s condo is located in The Rutherford. The building contains 175 residential units and was constructed in 1961.
Ms. Lesser's condo next door, connected by an adjoining wall, was also home to three parrots.
“I started grinding my teeth in my sleep... my filling broke and they diagnosed that I was clenching.” Ms. Kullen needs this mouthguard to sleep due to grinding caused by anxiety related to the birds.
For a time, Ms. Kullen considered her neighbor to be a close friend. They would care for each other’s pets and celebrated birthdays together.
Ms. Kullen is trying to forget the parrots and hopes to sell the apartment, putting the experience behind her. In the meantime, relief comes through visits to her horse, Asantro, in New Jersey.