A dispute between bond king Bill Gross and his next-door neighbour over a US$1 million outdoor sculpture has devolved into police calls to their Laguna Beach, California, mansions, multiple legal actions – and allegations that the billionaire investor blared the Gilligan's Island theme song on a loop at all hours to annoy his neighbour. The 76-year-old Pimco co-founder and his partner, former professional tennis player Amy Schwartz, are being accused by tech entrepreneur Mark Towfiq and his wife of harassment and intentional infliction of emotional distress. The cause? An almost 7-metre-long blue glass installation – and an even bigger pole and netting structure erected to protect it – that Towfiq said blocked his view, prompting a complaint to the city. It's another in a long line of bitter quarrels between well-to-do neighbours in Southern California's most expensive neighbourhoods, who sometimes find that with a coveted address comes deep-pocketed adversaries and little peace of mind. California town sues owner of landmark ‘Flintstone house’ At issue this time is an artwork that can be lit at night and features cobalt-coloured reeds stretching nearly 3 metres in height, swimming marlin and round objects inspired by traditional blown-glass Japanese fishing floats. It was created by Dale Chihuly, an artist whose striking blown-glass work adorns the ceiling of the Bellagio hotel's lobby in Las Vegas. The lawn sculpture was installed in 2019 and in itself appeared not to foment any trouble. The dispute began when Gross and Schwartz installed netting this year to protect the work after it was damaged, according to legal filings and city records. The neighbour's lawsuit accuses the billionaire and his partner of playing blaring music at all hours, including the Gilligan's Island theme song, rap and pop, in an effort to force him to drop the complaint. The couple say they had to take refuge twice with either relatives or in a hotel room. In an application for a temporary restraining order filed October 15, which was granted, Towfiq cites a text message allegedly sent to him by Gross after he asked the music to be turned down: “Peace on all fronts or well (sic) just have nightly concerts big boy”. Gross and Schwartz, 51, actually beat their neighbours to the courthouse, filing their own lawsuit October 13 and accusing Towfiq of developing an obsession with them, which included installing cameras directed at their property and “peeping Tom behaviours”. In a request for a temporary restraining order filed last week that was pending, Gross said he has played music since moving in to the property and feels “trapped in my own home”. Man killed neighbour’s family by setting fire to their flat Schwartz issued a statement that the dispute was “very upsetting" to her because the sculpture, with its assorted blue pieces, was bought for her by Gross because her mother is ill. Schwartz also said she and Gross are the “best neighbours" since they are only at the house about five days a month, for five months a year. She added that the noise from the nearby highway and ocean were a lot louder than their music. Towfiq and his wife alleged in their lawsuit that the harassment escalated to the point this month that loud music was played even when Gross and Schwartz were not home, “apparently controlling their sound system remotely”.