Wow. How sad for everyone involved.
yogibooboo, it is impossible for me or anyone else in this thread to know all the details of your situation. From your descriptions of the specific noise problems you experienced, however, it seems to me that a big contributer to the noise was flimsy construction. I’ve lived in downstairs apartments before and have never heard the upstairs neighbors’ washing machines. If I heard a washing machine like that, I would feel upset not at the neighbors, but at the cheap construction. I wonder if your upstairs neighbors felt that they were not making unreasonable amounts of noise, when in truth the flimsy floors were allowing all of the sound to flow down. Usually when I think of noise problems (which I have experienced), I think of loud music, parties, shouting, playing ball inside, etc. B”H you found a new apartment and hopefully don’t have to deal with the noise anymore.
The Goq, I don’t think that Mod80 was blaming anyone. He was describing in a beautiful way what is commonly called “taking the high road.” Valuing peace between Jews over (even justified) victory. Not out of a holier-than-thou attitude, but out of fear of the consequences of Jews fighting with each other.