In a blow to the fracking industry that may open the floodgates for more lawsuits, a Texas court has awarded one family $2.9 million in damages.
The Parr family has suffered serious medical ailments, which started after fracking operations set up shop near their 40-acre ranch in Decatur, 60 miles north of Dallas. Lisa Parr started experiencing headaches, dizziness and nausea in 2008, and symptoms only got worse over time.
“By 2009, I was having a multitude of problems,” Lisa?told CNN. “My central nervous system was messed up. I couldn’t hear, and my vision was messed up. My entire body would shake inside. I was vomiting white foam in the mornings.”
Her husband Robert and 11-year-old daughter Emma also suffered, experiencing rashes, nosebleeds and changes in vision and blood pressure.
Eventually, Lisa’s doctor discovered 20 chemicals in her body and warned that if she didn’t move at once, she could expect hospital stays, chemotherapy and a shortened lifespan. The family has since attempted to sell their ranch, but no offers have arisen after two years on the market.
Between February 2010 and July 2011, the Parrs filed 13 complaints with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, claiming that the air pollution from fracking was making them sick. In March of 2011, they finally decided to sue Aruba Petroleum, requesting $66 million.
Aruba maintains their innocence, and stated:
“We contended the plaintiffs were neither harmed by the presence of our drilling operations nor was the value of their property diminished because of our natural gas development.”
While the jury may have sided with the Parrs, the battle isn’t over yet. Aruba is requesting a reversal of the decision, and a judge will hear their argument in June.
The Parr’s neighbors, the Ruggieros, also sued Aruba, but settled out of court. Other lawsuits against fracking companies?are pending, however, and the Parr case could influence their outcome.
?This case will be looked at very, very closely because it has set the stage in a way that has never been set before,” said attorney Tomas Ramirez, who is representing two other families suing the oil industry.
edited by tw
