As reported by the Chatham Daily News, from Ontario, CA, a family of four is suing a wind farm company for $1.5 million in a personal injury lawsuit that alleges that the proximity of the farm to the family's home has cause a wide plethora of health problems.
The suit was filed the day after the farm showcased their facility to the community, though the farm started operating in the spring.
The M. family, living west of Thamesville and near to the Suncor Kent Breeze Wind Farm, claims that their health issues began with the farm's opening.
The family includes parents M.M. and L.M., and their two adult children living in the home, E.M., 25 and J.M., 20. They count among their collective symptoms: vertigo, nausea and disruption of sleep.
The loss of sleep they've experienced caused more than one emergency trip to the hospital where medication was prescribed.
L.M., 46, said, "Nobody's been sleeping for months. I couldn't even stand or walk."
M.M., 53, complained of feeling poorly due to his lack of sleep. His son, J.M., noting the change in his father, said that he appeared miserable and began to make errors at work.
M.M. owns his own construction company and recently injured his thumb using a power nailer. M.M. said, "I've been better, I'm not happy."
L.M. said that both of their children had been changed for the worse since the wind farm began their operations. Her son is unable to concentrate on, or even play, his musical instruments like he used to.
And her daughter had two menstruations within one month - something that has never occurred for her before.
L.M. said, "It's been a real struggle."
The family built their home on Dew Drop Line in 2005 and, per L.M., "put our heart and soul in that place."
The family requested that the wind machines be turned off, or that the company purchase them a new home, when they started to note their health issues.
The Suncor Energy company spokeswoman, Jennifer Lomas, said of the impending lawsuit, "Because the statement of claim has been filed and it's now a matter before the courts, I can't talk about specifics or comment on our perspective."
The Suncor legal team is reviewing the claim, of which Lomas said, "This is the only claim we've had."
Attorney Eric Gillespie represents the M. family. He said, "The government and Suncor's own experts said these kinds of effects would likely occur. They still went ahead.
The claim is based on what appears to be obvious negligence."
Gillespie also stated, "If you go and talk to everybody in the community it's not going to be everybody (who suffers symptoms). Unfortunately, in this case it happens to be the (M. family)."
If there is something "brewing" near your home, that has subjected your family to pollution or toxins that has affected their health, or livelihood, contact a personal injury lawyer to discuss your case. Don't wait for your symptoms to worsen.