Do you have a Police report for the initial occurance?
Do you have any written info. on the half pay claims, or witnesses to that admission of guilt and payback?
If not do you own a BB gun for retaliation?
I would guess the longer they wait, the less chance you have to make any claims in court which could easily be denied by each family on the day of court.
I hope you have some tangible evidence of guilt or witnesses to take to court with you.