# Offensive Odors, Loud Noises, and Dust Everywhere: What Happens When Industry Is Built in Your Backyard? | Attorney Brian White Most homeowners, who are looking to buy a home, tend to want a home in a quiet neighborhood. They want a neighborhood where their family can throw a barbecue in the backyard and invite over some neighbors. Homeowners want a neighborhood where they won’t be woken up at 3 am by the sounds of industrial machinery running full tilt. They want a neighborhood where they can watch their children play in the front yard without the need for dust filter masks. Simple things such as this are a baseline that most homeowners can agree on. But what can you do if an industrial company moves in next door? Can you do anything if your city approves the teardown of a residential building and allows construction of Pollute Co.’s new Obnoxious Noise, Dusty Debris, and Smelly Solvents factory to be built next to you? Is your only option to sell your home (now at a reduced price because no one wants to live there) and move far enough away? It turns outs, [Texas](https://www.texas.gov/) courts have sided with the homeowners more than a few times in these types of cases. The Texas Supreme Court recently found that the owner/operator of a natural gas pipeline use of loud compressors was sufficiently negligent to create a nuisance. Here, the homeowners had a right to “use and enjoyment” of their land, and the negligent, intentional, or strict liability violation of this right was actionable by the court. A party ‘negligently’ creates a nuisance if they fail to use ordinary care, that is, fail to do that which a person or party of ordinary prudence would have done under the same or similar circumstances or doing that which a person or party of ordinary prudence would not have done under the same or similar circumstances. “Ordinary care” means the degree of care that would be used by a person or party of ordinary prudence under the same or similar circumstances. Crosstex N. Texas Pipeline, L.P. v. Gardiner, 505 S.W.3d 580, 612–13 (Tex. 2016) In the first example, the behavior of Pollute Co. would be examined through the lens of what a similar but prudent company would have done. A court would look to see if Pollute Co had been fined (once or a few times), or if other similar companies can carry on their business without intruding upon homeowner’s right to the “use and enjoyment” of their land. The jury in the Crosstex N. Texas Pipeline, L.P. v. Gardiner case ultimately decided that the nuisance caused by the constant compressor use had decreased the value of the land by over $2 million, and decided that the landowners should be compensated accordingly. So, if you have recently found that a loud, dusty, and or smelly business has moved into your quiet neighborhood, don’t give up hope! You may have a valid claim and a way to stop that nuisance. Don’t let big industry push you around and stop you from enjoy your own home. We can help. Navigating private nuisance claims as a homeowner or member of a neighborhood can be a nightmare. Work with a [team of trial attorneys](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/) for assistance with your specific nuisance claim. Returning your property to that quiet peaceful neighborhood you had once before shouldn’t be just a dream. ## Contact the Houston Personal Injury Lawyers at Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers For Help Our offices Houston — Greenway/Upper Kirby 3120 Southwest Freeway, Suite 350 Houston, TX 77098 Open 24 hours daily Call [(713) 364-1466](tel:+17133641466) [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=Attorney%20Brian%20White%20Personal%20Injury%20Lawyers%2C%203120%20Southwest%20Freeway%2C%20Suite%20350%2C%20Houston%2C%20TX%2077098) Houston — East Freeway 11811 East Freeway, Suite 630-06 Houston, TX 77029 Open 24 hours daily Call [(713) 609-1893](tel:+17136091893) [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=Attorney%20Brian%20White%20Personal%20Injury%20Lawyers%2C%2011811%20East%20Freeway%2C%20Suite%20630-06%2C%20Houston%2C%20TX%2077029) Houston — South Loop 2600 South Loop West, Suite 293 Houston, TX 77054 Open 24 hours daily Call [(713) 281-4904](tel:+17132814904) [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=Attorney%20Brian%20White%20Personal%20Injury%20Lawyers%2C%202600%20South%20Loop%20West%2C%20Suite%20293%2C%20Houston%2C%20TX%2077054) Houston — Katy Freeway 11511 Katy Fwy, Suite 515 Houston, TX 77079 Open 24 hours daily Call [(713) 909-7537](tel:+17139097537) [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=Attorney%20Brian%20White%20Personal%20Injury%20Lawyers%2C%2011511%20Katy%20Fwy%2C%20Suite%20515%2C%20Houston%2C%20TX%2077079) Houston — Clear Lake 1300 Bay Area Blvd, Suite B268 Houston, TX 77058 By appointment only Call [(936) 508-2854](tel:+19365082854) [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=Attorney%20Brian%20White%20Personal%20Injury%20Lawyers%2C%201300%20Bay%20Area%20Blvd%2C%20Suite%20B268%2C%20Houston%2C%20TX%2077058) The Woodlands 1776 Woodstead Ct, Ste. 203 The Woodlands, TX 77380 By appointment only Call [(281) 843-9777](tel:+12818439777) [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=Attorney%20Brian%20White%20Personal%20Injury%20Lawyers%2C%201776%20Woodstead%20Ct%2C%20Ste.%20203%2C%20The%20Woodlands%2C%20TX%2077380) Champion Forest (Cypress) 4606 FM 1960 Rd W, Ste. 444 Houston, TX 77069 By appointment only Call [(281) 843-9777](tel:+12818439777) [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=Attorney%20Brian%20White%20Personal%20Injury%20Lawyers%2C%204606%20FM%201960%20Rd%20W%2C%20Ste.%20444%2C%20Houston%2C%20TX%2077069) --- For a legal consultation call [(713) 500-5000](tel:+17135005000) ### About the Author Brian White ![About the Author Brian White](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/brian-white-houston-personal-injury-lawyer-300x300.jpg) [Brian White](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/about/our-attorneys/brian-white/) earned his J.D. from South Texas College of Law in Houston and is licensed to practice in Texas. He is a [Board-Certified](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/resources/brian-white-is-board-certified-in-personal-injury-trial-law/) Personal Injury Trial Lawyer. Dedicated to giving back, he actively supports local charities and [community initiatives](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/about/community-involvement/). [Client testimonials](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/about/testimonials/) highlight Brian’s compassion, open communication, and dedication to achieving the best outcomes for those he represents. 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Every year, approximately 4,000 people drown in the United --- Source: https://attorneybrianwhite.com/blog/offensive-odors-loud-noises-and-dust-everywhere-what-happens-when-industry-is-built-in-your-backyard/