Class-action lawsuit filed against Microsoft data center in Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin
Sturtevant residents have filed a class-action lawsuit against Microsoft, alleging excessive noise from its recently completed data center in Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin. The lawsuit claims that the noise has negatively impacted residents' quality of life and that Microsoft has failed to address the issue. Plaintiffs are seeking compensatory damages, attorney's fees, and relief from the noise.
A group of Sturtevant residents has initiated a class-action lawsuit against Microsoft, alleging excessive noise emanating from the company's recently completed data center in Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin. The plaintiffs, including Garret Ostergaard and Jason and Amanda Ingle, claim that the constant humming and light pollution from the facility have significantly diminished their quality of life, preventing them from enjoying outdoor activities and disrupting sleep. Ostergaard, a Mount Pleasant Police Department employee, stated he had to change work shifts due to the impact on his sleep.
The lawsuit seeks compensatory damages, attorney's fees, and relief from the noise, estimating that over 1,000 individuals within a 1.5-mile radius could be eligible to join the class action. The plaintiffs assert that Microsoft intentionally, knowingly, or negligently constructed and operates the data center and has failed to address the known noise issues.
This data center project, part of Microsoft's $4.7 billion investment in hyper-scale data centers in Wisconsin, is slated for a total construction expenditure of $20.6 billion. The Legislative Audit Bureau reported that Microsoft is the primary beneficiary of a state sales tax exemption for data centers, which is projected to result in $1.5 billion in initial foregone state sales tax from four projects and an additional $369 million annually once construction is complete, significantly exceeding the Wisconsin Department of Revenue's original incentive estimates.