Quentin Tarantino sues over squawks

Quentin Tarantino is suing his neighbours over their parrots' "blood curdling screams".

The 'Pulp Fiction' director has taken action against fellow writer Alan Ball, complaining his pet macaws stop him from being able to work.

Tarantino's legal papers, filed at Los Angeles Superior Court yesterday (10.03.11), state: "On a daily basis Defendants' Macaws, large tropical birds known for their loud squawks and screams, are placed in an outdoor aviary where they emit blood-curdling screams at random intervals for seven to eight hours.

"Mr. Tarantino and others in his home are subjected to the Macaws' obnoxious pterodactyl-like screams, which have seriously disrupted Mr. Tarantino's ability to work as a writer in his home."

Ball – who wrote the Oscar winning screenplay to 'American Beauty' – lives in the house immediately below Quentin's Los Angeles residence.

The lawsuit claims problems with the birds squawking began in late 2009 and Alan and his partner, Peter Macdissi, had promised to look into building a soundproof outdoor structure for their pets, which never happened, forcing Tarantino, 47, into legal action with Mark Friedman, who owns his house.

The lawsuit continues: "Defendants have done little to eliminate the Macaws' daily cacophony.

"Unwilling to tolerate this nuisance any longer, Plaintiffs were left with no alternative but to commence this action."

The lawsuit seeks an injunction to prevent Ball and Macdissi from making loud noises in the grounds of their property, and asks that they cover all legal costs.