A New York man learned to laugh as a way to cope with his neighbor’s taunts about his disability, but now his comic relief has him in legal trouble.

Robert Schiavelli, 42, has neurological impairments and often experiences seizures. His mother says that their next-door neighbor has long tormented Schiavelli about his disability, frequently calling him “a retard.” Over the years, Schiavelli learned to laugh off the ridicule.

But now Schiavelli is facing two summonses for “disturbing the peace” after his neighbor called in police alleging that the man’s laughter was too loud. Each ticket could mean a $250 fine or 15 days behind bars.

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“I didn’t know it was a crime to laugh out a window,” the New York Post reports Schiavelli said at an arraignment this week in the case. “What else are you supposed to do when someone calls you a retard?” To read more click here.

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