Neighbors’ bid to halt Oxmoor Valley data center construction heads to hearing
Oxmoor Valley residents have filed a lawsuit against Nebius, Hoar Construction, and Lakeshore Data Center, along with the City of Birmingham, alleging illegal construction of a data center and seeking to halt the project due to noise, dust, and vibrations. A judge has ordered work delays and will hear testimony regarding a temporary injunction next week. The plaintiffs' attorney expressed confidence in their case, while the defendants' attorneys highlighted potential high bond costs for the plaintiffs.
Residents Robert Sansome and John Hilley of the Oxmoor Valley neighborhood in Birmingham, Alabama, have initiated legal action against Nebius, Hoar Construction, Lakeshore Data Center, and the city of Birmingham. The lawsuit alleges that the construction of a data center near their homes is illegal and has caused significant disturbances including noise, dust, and vibrations, which prevent them from enjoying their property.
The plaintiffs are seeking a temporary injunction to stop all construction work until a ruling is made on the case. Although Judge Javan Crayton initially ordered a delay in daily work starts to 8 a.m. and later to 9 a.m. on Saturdays to provide relief to homeowners, she declined to hold the defendants in contempt for an alleged violation of the earlier order. She also refused the defendants' request to dismiss the plaintiffs' motion for a temporary injunction.
Testimony on the proposed injunction is scheduled to begin the following Tuesday. Plaintiffs' attorney Mark Parnell expressed confidence in their case, while defense attorneys noted that if an injunction is granted, the plaintiffs would likely be required to post a bond potentially amounting to millions of dollars to compensate the construction companies for lost time should the plaintiffs ultimately lose the case.