Denise Barton is suing Santa Monica for $1.7 billion, claiming that the city's new wifi-equipped parking meters are making her sick.
Barton experienced neurological damage in a car crash as a child, and told ABC News that the parking meters have caused tightness on her neck and back, as well as ear infections and an irregular period.
"I figured that's the value of my life and health considering how much I had to go through as a child," she told ABC News.
She admitted that $1.7 billion is a little high. We will note that it is roughly equivalent to the nation of Bhutan's entire gross domestic product.
You pay at the new meters using coins, a credit card, or your smartphone. The city's assistant finance director Don Patterson, described to ABC how common the technology is.
What we're using is what basically is widely available cell phone technology. If you have WiFi in your house, it's the same technology. If you have a cell phone, then that portion of the technology is the same.
Barton's suit is no doubt triggered by the endless back and forth over the carcinogenic effects of cell phones.
Santa Monica's liability adjuster is currently reviewing if the suit will be rejected or not. Maybe this is just a clever way to just get rid of all parking meters?
(Hat tip to dc8822!)
Photo Credit: Jun Seita