Sued for a Basketball Hoop — Help Us Stand Up for Our Family

My name is Lilly Moeding, and I’m a mom to two boys, ages 9 and 12. Our boys love basketball — cheering for the Timberwolves, playing for the Minneapolis Lakers, and especially enjoying time together shooting hoops in our driveway.

What started as a way to keep our boys active, healthy, and happy has unfortunately become the subject of an ongoing legal dispute with our new neighbors, one that has been extremely difficult for our family.

About a year ago, after our neighbors purchased the home next door, they raised concerns about the location of our basketball hoop. Although the hoop had been installed before they moved in, we discovered it was placed about six inches too close to the property line — something we had not realized.

As soon as we were made aware, we worked with the city’s zoning board to relocate the hoop to an approved location. The neighbors appealed the zoning board’s decision, and later the city council's decision as well.

Both appeals were denied.

Despite these clear decisions in our favor, the dispute has continued.

At one point, our neighbor filed a restraining order against my husband in connection with retrieving a few stray basketballs from her yard. The court dismissed the restraining order with prejudice, meaning it was found to have no merit and cannot be refiled.

Now, she has filed a civil lawsuit against us and against the City of St. Louis Park over a basketball hoop that is 100% compliant with all city and zoning regulations.

It doesn’t end there.

Last week, our neighbor filed a motion seeking a temporary injunction that would prevent our children from playing basketball during the summer months. Her reason? They are doing construction on their property and claim it will be "unsafe" for our children to play on our own driveway.

Our neighbors both have legal degrees from a prestigious and highly ranked law school. Because they are representing themselves, they can continue pursuing these actions without facing the mounting legal costs we are incurring. Meanwhile, we have had to hire legal counsel to defend ourselves — and the costs are overwhelming.

To date, simply responding to everything they have filed against us has cost us $3,300. If we want to fight back - our lawyer has advised it will cost significantly more.

We will make our decisions about next steps based on what is realistically possible with the support we receive.

Funds raised beyond our legal expenses will be donated. We plan to support 612 Promise, a nonprofit dedicated to providing access to high-quality sports programming for disadvantaged youth in the Twin Cities.

Asking for help is not easy. We are aware these are first-world problems and we’re grateful every day for the many blessings in our lives — a beautiful home, health, and opportunities for our children.

But after many long, hard conversations, we realized this isn't just about a basketball hoop. It's about teaching our boys that when faced with an injustice, you don't back down. It's about standing up for what's right - even when it's uncomfortable, even when the odds feel stacked against you.

At a time when integrity, fairness, and courage are being tested across our country, we want our children to see that doing the right thing still matters - not just when it's easy, but when it's hard.

If you can give, we'd be forever grateful. If you can’t give, please consider sharing our story — it would mean so much to our family.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you.

With love and gratitude,

Lilly Moeding

Disclaimer:

The content of this fundraiser reflects the personal opinions, experiences, and recollections of our family. It is not intended to cause harm or defame any individual. All information is shared in good faith and with respect for the privacy of all parties involved.

FAQs:

Why are you being sued?

Our neighbors are suing us over a basketball hoop in our driveway, even though it is 100% compliant with all city and zoning regulations.

Have you tried resolving this?

Yes. When we first learned the hoop was six inches too close to the property line, we worked with the zoning board to move it. Our neighbors appealed to the zoning board and city council — both denied their appeals. We also agreed to mediate with our neighbors & attended a 3-hour mediation. None of our suggestions were agreeable to them.

What happened with the restraining order?

One of our neighbors filed a restraining order against my husband for retrieving a few stray basketballs from her property. The judge dismissed the case with prejudice, meaning it had no merit and cannot be filed again.

What will the funds go toward?

Funds will go toward legal defense fees, including attorney costs and court filings. If anything is left over, we will donate to 612 Promise, a nonprofit organization working to provide disadvantaged youth in the Twin Cities with access to high quality sports programming.

Why don’t you name the neighbors?

We’re choosing to keep names private to stay respectful and focus this campaign on our family’s needs, not on blame.