{"id":23673,"date":"2012-11-10T20:15:32","date_gmt":"2012-11-11T01:15:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.windturbinesyndrome.com\/static\/static\/?p=23673"},"modified":"2012-11-12T21:54:20","modified_gmt":"2012-11-13T02:54:20","slug":"wind-turbine-syndrome-victims-sue-noise-engineer-new-york","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.windturbinesyndrome.com\/static\/2012\/wind-turbine-syndrome-victims-sue-noise-engineer-new-york\/","title":{"rendered":"Wind Turbine Syndrome victims sue noise engineer (New York)"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"
\nBig Guy v. Little Guy<\/span><\/p>\n

.<\/span>—Calvin Luther Martin, PhD<\/p>\n

A team of Syracuse, NY, lawyers is suing the Spanish wind energy giant, Iberdrola, on behalf of scores of people who have\u00a0succumbed to Wind Turbine Syndrome, loss of property value, loss of living amenity, loss of business income, and damage to domestic animals and livestock. \u00a0All of the plaintiffs\u00a0live in the shadow of the\u00a0Hardscrabble windfarm<\/a>\u00a0in Herkimer County, NY.<\/p>\n

Click here<\/a> to read the legal brief, dated October 22, 2012.<\/p>\n

What makes the case especially interesting is (a) the number of individuals named as plaintiffs, (b) the uniformity of their complaints, and (c) the fact that they have named several “versions” and layers of Iberdrola in their suit, together with Atlantic Renewable Energy and a shadow corporation identified in the suit as Corporation X.<\/p>\n

But what makes the case unique, so far as I know, is that the noise engineer for the wind developer is being sued. \u00a0Mark Bastasch. \u00a0Both Bastasch and his employer, an outfit named CH2M Hill<\/a>,\u00a0are named in the brief.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Here are some high points from the suit:<\/p>\n

94. The Defendants represented to the Town of Fairfield and residents in the areas where the turbines\u00a0were placed that the subject wind turbines would not be noisy, would not adversely impact\u00a0neighboring houses, and there would not be any potential health risks.<\/p>\n

95. Defendant Atlantic Renewables\u00a0LLC released “projected” noise levels that showed that the wind turbines would not go over 50\u00a0dB.<\/p>\n

96. The aforementioned 2006 noise level study by\u00a0Defendant Atlantic Renewables LLC was based on projections for General Electric 1.5LSE, 389-foot tall turbines, and not the Gamesa G90, 476-foot turbines, that Defendants collectively placed\u00a0in the Hardscrabble project.<\/p>\n

98. The Defendants failed to adequately assess the effect\u00a0that the wind turbines would have on neighboring properties including, but not limited to, noise\u00a0creation, significant loss of use and enjoyment of property, interference with electrical\u00a0functioning of homes such as satellites, television, internet and telephone services, diminished\u00a0property values, destruction of scenic countryside, various forms of trespass and nuisance to\u00a0neighboring properties, and health concerns; among other effects.<\/p>\n

99. Despite the foregoing, and in opposition to many\u00a0residents who own property in close proximity to the wind turbines, in 2010 the Defendants\u00a0erected 37 Gamesa G90 wind-turbines that stand 476 feet tall in and around the Towns of\u00a0Fairfield, Middleville, and Norway, New York.<\/p>\n

102. In 2011, the Defendants conducted a noise study\u00a0that showed noise levels as high as 72 dB.<\/p>\n

103. As a result of the aforementioned 2011 study, the\u00a0Defendants thereafter faulted their own study and conducted two additional noise studies to\u00a0demonstrate compliance with the Town of Fairfield’s Local Ordinance 1 of 2006, which sets the\u00a0maximum noise level at 50 dB.<\/p>\n

104. These new studies conducted by the Defendants\u00a0show the average wind speeds, direction and expected percentage of operation.<\/p>\n

105. The Defendants’ new studies did not measure\u00a0the maximum wind speeds and do not measure the noise levels in the winter months, when the\u00a0noise levels are higher.<\/p>\n

106. The Defendants’ new studies fail to acknowledge\u00a0and assess the extent of the problems, including the full log of Plaintiffs’ complaints that are in\u00a0the thousands.<\/p>\n

108. Since the huge wind turbines in this project produce\u00a0very little electricity, when the government subsidies expire, the people in the Hardscrabble area\u00a0will be confronted with a poorly maintained and deteriorating wind energy facility that may one\u00a0day become derelict.<\/p>\n

114. The Defendants’ noise studies also fail to address the\u00a0aforesaid levels of infra and low frequency sounds by only focusing on audibility, and not on\u00a0other sensations such as vestibular and other symptoms that fit with the Wind-Turbine Syndrome\u00a0profile or other health concerns.<\/p>\n

115. The wind turbines are causing such significant\u00a0problems and\/or injuries that residents, including the Plaintiffs, are continuing to have many\u00a0difficulties on their properties, house values have been significantly compromised, and some\u00a0residents were even forced to abandon their homes; among other damages as set forth in this\u00a0complaint.<\/p>\n

121. The aforesaid Defendants carelessly and negligently created and\/or assisted in the creation of the massive wind-turbine structures that have caused and continue to cause significant harm to residents in the area of the turbines.<\/p>\n

122. The aforesaid Defendants carelessly and negligently failed to adequately disclose the true nature and effects that the wind turbines would have on the community, including the Plaintiffs’ homes.<\/p>\n

125. The amount of the damages sustained herein by Plaintiffs exceed the\u00a0jurisdictional limits of all lower courts.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Excerpts from the case against noise engineer Mark Bastasch and his employer, CH2M Hill:<\/p>\n

128. The studies performed by CH2M Hill, Inc. and Mark\u00a0Bastasch, P.E., INCE lacked a total and real assessment as it related to the potential harm.<\/p>\n

129. It is a requirement of acoustic engineers, pursuant to\u00a0the International Conference on Electrical and Electronics Engineering and civil engineers (as\u00a0per New York State licensure) to protect public safety, health, and welfare.<\/p>\n

130. Defendants knew or should have known that the\u00a0wind turbines erected produce acoustic pressure pulsations that affect peoples’ health.<\/p>\n

131. It was the responsibility of CH2M Hill, Inc. and\u00a0Mark Bastasch, P.E., INCE to advise their clients and the public, including Plaintiffs, of the\u00a0potential for adverse health risks and other impacts to property in the Hardscrabble project area.<\/p>\n

133. As a result of the aforesaid, the Plaintiffs have\u00a0suffered significant and permanent injuries as more fully set forth herein.<\/p>\n

134. The amount of the damages sustained herein by Plaintiffs exceed the\u00a0jurisdictional limits of all lower courts.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Several other highlights:<\/p>\n

136. Plaintiffs have a private interest in their land and Plaintiffs allege that the\u00a0Defendants have interfered with and\/or invaded their interest by conduct that was negligent,\u00a0careless, intentional and\/or unreasonable.<\/p>\n

137. The wind turbines constitute a private nuisance\u00a0because: (i) the wind turbines create significant noise; (ii) the wind turbines interfere with the\u00a0private enjoyment and use of Plaintiffs’ properties; (iii) the wind turbines cause blinking,\u00a0flashing and\/or flickering effects that impact neighboring properties; and (iv) the wind turbines\u00a0are adversely affecting property values; among other private nuisances.<\/p>\n

149. Plaintiffs allege that the giant wind turbines that Defendants have placed around their property results in a trespass by the Defendants due to invasion of their land by noises, lights, flickering, and low-frequency vibrations which penetrate their homes, thereby destroying the use and enjoyment of the Plaintiffs’ land; among other trespass.<\/p>\n

156. Defendants criteria for the wind turbines are beyond the recommendations of the Environmental Protection Agency and the World Health Organization to the detriment of Plaintiffs.<\/p>\n

171. Based on the aforesaid, Plaintiffs allege\u00a0that all of the Defendants have\u00a0caused significant damage to the Plaintiffs and that such damage is substantial, irreparable,\u00a0and was proximately caused by the acts of the Defendants as set forth in this complaint.<\/p>\n

233. In addition to the aforesaid, all Plaintiffs are entitled\u00a0to damages related to the diminution of their property values; compensatory damages for the\u00a0destruction of their homes and lifestyle; loss of use and enjoyment of their properties; damages\u00a0in the form of relocations costs and lost time spent relocating their homes; mental\u00a0anguish; destruction of scenic countryside; physical pain and suffering; difficulty sleeping;\u00a0nuisance; trespass; interference with electrical functioning of their homes such as satellites,\u00a0telephone and televisions; loss of business profits; special damages that include anxiety, stress,\u00a0worry and inconvenience; some Plaintiffs may have a need for future medical monitoring and\/or\u00a0medical care; and the effects of the lights and noise the wind turbines have on the Plaintiffs’\u00a0properties; among other injuries.<\/p>\n

WHEREFORE, Plaintiffs demand judgment against the Defendants on each of the\u00a0causes of action for the damages stated herein, in an amount to be determined which exceeds the\u00a0jurisdictional limits of all lower courts, together with attorney’s fees, court costs and the\u00a0disbursements of this action.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Unfortunately, the plaintiffs don’t have the funds to hire the experts they need, whereas the defendants have boundless funds to hire the usual parade of charlatans and self-important hacks who prostitute their services as physicists and noise engineers and clinicians to Big Wind. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I say that with a sigh of regret. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, in other words, the plaintiffs will likely lose. \u00a0But—God bless ’em in the effort.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Big Guy v. Little Guy .—Calvin Luther Martin, PhD A team of Syracuse, NY, lawyers is suing the Spanish wind energy giant, Iberdrola, on behalf of scores of people who have\u00a0succumbed to Wind Turbine Syndrome, loss of property value, loss of living amenity, loss of business income, and damage to domestic animals and livestock. \u00a0All of the plaintiffs\u00a0live in the shadow of the\u00a0Hardscrabble windfarm\u00a0in Herkimer County, NY. Click here to read the legal brief, dated October 22, 2012. What makes the case especially interesting is (a) the number of individuals named as plaintiffs, (b) the uniformity of their complaints, and (c) the fact that they have named several “versions” and layers of Iberdrola in their suit, together with Atlantic Renewable Energy and a shadow corporation identified in the suit as Corporation X. But what makes the case unique, so far as I know, is that the noise engineer for the wind developer is being sued. \u00a0Mark Bastasch. \u00a0Both Bastasch and his employer, an outfit named CH2M Hill,\u00a0are named in the brief. Here are some high points from the suit: 94. The Defendants represented to the Town of Fairfield and residents in the areas where the turbines\u00a0were placed that the subject wind turbines would not be noisy, would not adversely impact\u00a0neighboring houses, and there would not be any potential health risks. 95. Defendant Atlantic Renewables\u00a0LLC released “projected” noise levels that showed that the wind turbines would not go over 50\u00a0dB. 96. The aforementioned 2006 noise level study by\u00a0Defendant Atlantic Renewables LLC was based on projections for General Electric 1.5LSE, 389-foot tall turbines, and not the Gamesa G90, 476-foot turbines, that Defendants collectively placed\u00a0in the Hardscrabble project. 98. The Defendants failed to adequately assess the effect\u00a0that the wind turbines would have on neighboring properties including, but not limited to, noise\u00a0creation, significant lossRead More…<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[16,170],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.windturbinesyndrome.com\/static\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23673"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.windturbinesyndrome.com\/static\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.windturbinesyndrome.com\/static\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.windturbinesyndrome.com\/static\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.windturbinesyndrome.com\/static\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=23673"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.windturbinesyndrome.com\/static\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23673\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.windturbinesyndrome.com\/static\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23673"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.windturbinesyndrome.com\/static\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=23673"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.windturbinesyndrome.com\/static\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=23673"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}