An ethical and somewhat emotional question about a court appearance. Not a legal question.

I asked AI:

"Navigating a situation like this can indeed be tricky, especially when it involves balancing legal needs with personal relationships. Here’s some practical advice on how to approach this delicately and effectively:

First, consider why your former neighbor is reluctant. People often hesitate to testify due to fear of conflict, time constraints, or discomfort with legal settings. If you haven’t already, reach out to them—not to pressure, but to understand. A calm, friendly conversation could reveal their concerns. For example, you might say, “Hey, I noticed you seemed hesitant about testifying. I totally get that this isn’t an easy thing to do—can I ask what’s on your mind?” Listening first builds trust and shows you’re not just steamrolling them.

Next, frame the request in a way that aligns with their values or your past relationship. You mentioned you had an excellent rapport—lean on that. Remind them of the shared history and how their help could make a real difference. Something like, “You know how much we appreciated having you as neighbors. Your perspective could really help us resolve this fairly—it’s about making sure the truth comes out.” Keep it personal but not guilt-trippy; people respond better when they feel respected rather than obligated.

As for the subpoena, it’s a legal tool, but it’s also a last resort that can feel confrontational. If you can avoid forcing their hand, that’s ideal for keeping the temperature down. Let them know you’d rather not go that route unless absolutely necessary. You could say, “We’re trying to avoid dragging anyone into this formally—we’d much rather have you there because you want to help, not because we had to push.” This shows you’re considerate of their feelings while gently nudging them toward cooperation.
If they’re still hesitant, offer reassurance. Address practical worries—travel costs, time off work, or even just nerves about speaking up. Offer to help with logistics or prep them on what to expect so it feels less daunting. Small gestures can shift their mindset from “this is a burden” to “this is doable.”

Finally, keep your cool no matter their response. If they dig in their heels and the subpoena becomes unavoidable, stay polite and professional. A simple, “I’m really sorry it’s come to this—we just couldn’t see another way,” can preserve some goodwill. Tribunals can be stressful, but burning bridges won’t help your case or your peace of mind.
The goal here is to appeal to their sense of fairness and your shared history while keeping things as low-key as possible. Hopefully, they’ll come around willingly—but if not, you’ve still laid the groundwork for a civil outcome. Good luck with the tribunal; I hope it works out for you and your wife."

In addition to all of the above good suggestions by AAAKK, I'll add just this . . .

Sometimes a subpoena can be helpful.

Suppose the landlord has put intense pressure on the other party not to testify or cooperate. A subpoena can provide cover for the other party to testify after all. The party can express to the landlord that they have no legal choice but to cooperate. This approach will not work in many cases, but it does work in a case where a third party would really like to cooperate, but they feel that they can't do so unless there is a welcome appearance of such a requirement.

If the landlord has used the 'carrot' approach as opposed to the 'stick' approach and has paid off the other party in some way, you'll be able to sense this as the possibility of the requested cooperation without being compelled to do so evaporates. You may have a hostile witness in the end if such is the case.

Businesses often initially refuse to cooperate with law enforcement absent a subpoena or court order. The primary reason is that they may be sued for damages by the party who later turns out to be innocent of wrongdoing but whose rights have been violated and where there may be damage. The subpoena provides immunity to the cooperating party. "I was compelled to do it," and law enforcement understands the process.

~ Joe