A US resident is to sue his neighbour for using Wi-Fi and her mobile phone in the house next door.
Arthur Firstenberg claims he has electromagnetic sensitivity (EMS) which makes him suffer headaches and memory loss, and dates back further than a decade.
Doctors have validated his illness, stating that he is severely sensitive to electromagnetic radiation and chemicals.
His complaint is that Raphaela Monribot knew of his condition when she worked for him, and was initially sympathetic, turning off her mobile in his presence.
iPhone sensitivity
But then she moved next door, within 25 feet of Firstenberg's home, and left her new iPhone, computer and lights on constantly, and also installed Wi-Fi too.
Firstenberg has said that he has to live with friends or even in his car since the ordeal made his condition worse, and has now moved to stop his neighbour from using the 'harmful' equipment.
The case is ongoing, but we'll be watching with real intrigue to see what happens - and whether downloading an application can actually illegally give your neighbour a stomach ache.
Via TMC
Your comments (7) Click to add a new comment
mobius
January 14th 2010
7. Further to my suggestion of seeing whether he still complains without him knowing the equipment is switched off, it seems all the scientific research into it comes up with that precise outcome. The "symptoms" may be real but EM non ionising radiation does not seem to be a cause as all self claimed EM hypersensitive people don't show any difference when they are exposed to EM or when they merely think they're being exposed to it.
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avi
January 14th 2010
6. There have even been letters in the Times from women who are sensitive to Wi Fi, and RF generally, but I'm surprised anyone takes them seriously because it's very hard to get away from RF anywhere now.
BNF syndrome is the technical term and it stands for: Barmy, Neurotic, Freaks.
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mobius
January 14th 2010
5. martinb is absolutely right, the onus should be on him to turn his home into a Faraday cage. I've seen not so long ago a company develop wall paint with embedded iron to block wifi. Meant to be for security to stop signals getting out but it'd work the other way around. What could be easier than painting a Faraday cage?
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tech89
January 14th 2010
4. The man's an idiot and a fraud. If it's that bad for him, he should be the one to implement measures in his own household to help himself. Alternatively he can move to the country side or even better lie down six feet under, wi-fi won't hurt him then.
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martinb
January 13th 2010
3. Perhaps he ought to live in a faraday cage, this is just another pathetic example of blame some one else. If he does have this 'ailment' then surely he should take measures to reduce his exposure, not expect everyone else to alter their lives to suit him.
Perhaps he ought to be counter sued for being a money grabbing idiot
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mobius
January 13th 2010
2. It would be interesting to know whether his "complaints" do completely tie up timewise with when the equipment was on. "Doctors have validated his illness" is not the same as scientifically proven. E.g. if she switched the equipment off without him knowing would he still complain of being ill?
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watcherzero
January 13th 2010
1. Heres a suggestion, MOVE out of a suburban street, get a home in the country.
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