Bob, Lisa and Emma Parr live in Wise County Texas surrounded by 21 gas wells.
Shortly after moving to the area, Lisa's excellent health began to deteriorate. She began having breathing difficulties, nausea and headaches. She had violent rashes from the top of her head to the bottoms of her feet that have left her body scarred with pockmarks.
Six doctors could not find anything physically wrong. She even had a biopsy of the oozing welts on her scalp and the four ping pong size lumps on her neck.
After visiting with her neighbor, Christine Ruggiero, Lisa compared her medical records with Christine's log of spills, releases and air testing from the gas wells on their property. Lisa's medical episodes coincided with the environmental events.
When Lisa started having balance and other neurological problems her doctor recommended she see an environmental specialist whose tests detected chemicals in her blood and lungs that match the results of TCEQ's air sampling
Bob Parr, 50, only had 3 to 5 nosebleeds in his entire life. But in one year he had about 3 per week. Bob and seven-year-old Emma Parr sometimes had simultaneous nosebleeds. Bob also experienced loss of balance and neurological problems.
Emma Parr was recently diagnosed with asthma. She has also suffered rashes and nausea.
After receiving Lisa's test results, her doctor advised them to leave their home within 48 hours. The Parr family temporarily moved into Bob's office space where there is no drilling nearby. Their health greatly improved.
The Parr Family takes Aruba Petroleum to Court
In March 2011 the Parr family petitioned the court in Parr v. Aruba Petroleum, Inc., No. 11-1650 (Dallas Co. Ct. at Law, filed Mar. 2011).
The case was decided by a jury of 6 peers in Dallas, TX on April 22, 2014, where they awarded the Parrs $2.925 million. The suit specifically sought compensation for intentionally causing a nuisance on the Parr's property which impacted their health and ruined their drinking water.
According to a blog post by their lawyer the verdict included $275,000 for the Parr’s property loss of market value and $2 million for past physical pain and suffering by Bob and Lisa Parr and their daughter, $250,000 for future physical pain and suffering, $400,000 for past mental anguish.
Aruba Petroleum plans to appeal the verdict.
