Responsa for Bava Batra 12:8

אמר ר"נ אמר שמואל גג הסמוך לחצר חבירו עושה לו מעקה גבוה ד' אמות אבל בין גג לגג לא ור"נ דידיה אמר אינו זקוק לארבע אמות אבל זקוק למחיצת עשרה

The Master has just said: 'The one should make a parapet for half his roof and the other should make a parapet for half his roof, In such a way that the parapets do not face one another, though each should extend [his parapet a little beyond the middle].' Surely this rule is obvious? — We require it for the case where one of the owners builds a parapet first [without consulting the other]. You might think that in that case the other is' entitled to say to him: Complete the parapet and I will reimburse you.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'take the expense.' [Heb. uzinka, a Persian word meaning 'cost', v. Krauss, TA. I, 20.] ');"><sup>12</sup></span> We, are therefore told [that he cannot insist upon this], since the other can say to him: Why don't you want to build? Because it might weaken your wall. I too [don't want] my wall to be weakened.

Teshuvot Maharam

Q. A was pursuing his craft in town T when B began to pursue the same craft. A demanded that a ban be issued [in accordance with the talmudic law of competition] against any one besides himself who will engage in that craft. B, however, restrained him from such action until a decision, as to the legality of such a ban, be issued by a Rabbi. Subsequently A bribed the ruler of the town who issued a decree forbidding anyone, but A, to pursue that particular trade. A again demanded the issuance of a ban, claiming that the Jews are bound to abide by the law of the secular government. B, however, objected to the issuance of such a ban until a decision was rendered by a Rabbi.
A. If B is a resident of A's town,^*The author uses the term Bar-meboo, a resident of A’s alley, but he is only using the talmudic expression. The decision, however, is that in his own house B may pursue any craft he wants; while A may restrain B from settling next to A and pursuing A’s craft. A can not restrain him from pursuing his craft. The secular government, according to Jewish law, has no jursidiction over trade competition; therefore, the Jews are not bound to abide by their decree in such matters.
SOURCES: Pr. 677.

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