$1.7 Billion Parking Meter Suit Filed By California Woman Over Health Concerns

A woman in California has filed a $1.7 billion lawsuit over the new parking meters in Santa Monica.

Denise Barton claims that the new parking meters, which emit wireless signals, are detrimental to her health.

According to the Huffington Post, Barton claims that she has experienced ear infections, ringing in her ears, and neck pain since April, shortly after the meters appeared.

Barton said:

“In April, they started turning on the new smart meters downtown and I started getting sick… I figured that ($1.7 billion was) the value of my life and health… It’s also the value of taking away my choice of the best way to protect my health without my consent…. They can’t do things that affect people’s health without their consent. I think that’s wrong.”

The Today News Gazette reports that, in addition to the $1.7 billion that Barton is asking for in her parking meter lawsuit, she is also asking for an additional $1.7 million for every month that the parking meters stay up.

The smart meters emit small amounts of radiation when they accept credit cards. They also send text messages to drivers when their meter is about to run out.

Dr. David B. Agus told the Huffington Post in an email that Barton’s case may be dismissed because there is no scientific evidence that clearly shows that the radiation from wireless networks and cellphones is detrimental to a person’s health.

Agus said:

“There is no evidence that cell phones, wireless networks or other low-level emitters cause adverse health effects. The first cell phone was introduced in 1973, and the epidemiological data do not show significant changes in the incidence of cancers since that time. It is very difficult to prove that these energy sources do not cause health problems, but there is no data that they do.”

Do you think Barton has a case? If she does and ends up winning her $1.7 billion parking meter lawsuit, do you think cellphone companies, internet companies, and credit card companies will also be sued for emitting dangerous radiation?