CHICAGO (CN) - The neighbors of a coal-fired electric power plant in Cook County, Ill. filed a class action against its operator, complaining the firm has ignored their concerns about odors, fly ash and other particulates that rain down on their properties.
     Greg Paraday and four of his neighbors claim their lives have been "unreasonably interfered with" by the toxic fallout from Midwest Generation LLC's Fisk facility.
     The 109-year-old electrical generation plant, which lies within one mile of the residents' homes, has never been equipped with pollution control devices, according to the class action, filed in Cook County Circuit Court.
     The neighbors say that Midwest Generation has refused to stop releasing noxious chemicals and pollutants into the air despite protests, government action and "numerous and constant complaints" from local residents and organizations.
     The coal-fired plant releases fly ash, barium and copper compounds, hydrochloric acid and lead into the air, the residents claim.
     Midwest Generation claims installation of pollution control equipment is hinged on "a number of factors, such as market conditions, regulatory and legislative developments, and forecasted commodity prices, capital and operating costs applicable at the time decisions are required to be made," according to the complaint.
     Paraday, along with Sarah Devalk, Patricia Mendez, Leila Mendez and Walter Podrazik, seek unspecified compensatory damages on claims of negligence, gross negligence, nuisance, trespass and strict liability.
     They are represented by Arturo Jauregui and Anselmo Duran of Jauregui & Associates P.C. in Chicago.