Another class-action lawsuit filed over Navy jet noise

When I bought my home in VaBch, I checked out the local schools, places to shop, things to do, looked at the local crime rate and decided on a home. Now someone tells me there's a Naval Jet base in the area? Ya gotta be kidding me! And on top of that, home prices have declined in VaBch? Home prices may be on their way down, but it has nothing to do with the base. Lemme guess, it's that interest only, negative amortized, adjustable rate mortgage that you took out that's hurting ya. And of course, these same folks will be the first in line to sue their lender and will be looking for a government hand out.

The Pandora's box has been open. If a neighbor gets 10 or 20K, many others will hop on the bandwagon, even if they are not that concerned over the noise. I have little doubt that will be a third lawsuit soon.

Laughing that I moved 6 months ago due to the illegals, the police indifference, the city's criminal dealings on a day to day basis, laughing at the people who want the Navy out and laughing that if the Navy leaves, VB will turn into a bigger scum place full of low wage jobs and throw away careers. I'm laughing that my house has appreciated to almost double what I paid for it. With no VB politics, with NO traffic jams. My apology, I can't hear all of you whiners-it's so quiet out here on 2 acres in North Carolina-and yes..I know about the OLF and I as a Navy veteran will vote NO. It's a pleasure to see both sides squirm like this-all while your being taxed to death and sitting in traffic on your way to a low wage job. Laughing at you all!

Here is the deal; the more that people complain and file lawsuits, the government will eventually do something about them. They did they same thing where I grew up; that was until the Air Force closed the base, now that the town has lost the money from the base everyone moved out and drugs and crime moved in. So keep complaining, make the government close the base so you can have your peace and quiet! However, do not complain to us when crime and drugs replace jet noise!

Move.

The only relevant question in this debate is when the homeowner bought their house. If they bought it before NAS Oceana was established, then I would agree that they have a valid argument against the Navy. On the other hand, if they bought their house with full knowledge that it was located near a military jet base, then they have no argument. Who doesn't realize that a house near a jet base is going to be bombarded by noise? Yes, I live in Norfolk. But for 20 years I owned a home in VB, right in one of Oceana's landing patterns. When the noise got to be too much, I did the sensible thing, I moved. It never occured to me to sue the Navy, after all, when NAS Oceana was built, there weren't that many houses, Blame the developers.

Last commenter stated how the operations at Oceana have expanded...giving the citizens the right to complain. Hmmmm....kind of like town center??? City sure has expanded that area...but you tell me that I have no right to complain about it. Such hypocrits!! Point is, I have to except the fact that the city is "growing" for financial and economic gain. Well, you have to except the fact that our military advances and operations will expand. Difference between the two...I've been here way before town center. Most likely none of you have been around before the jet base.

You know, Navy jets fly over my home, sometimes very late at night, but I knew they would when I bought my home and I accept their presence. But my reaction to jet noise is nothing compared to the way my teeth grind when someone writes "That's the sound of freedom" or makes a similar comment connecting patriotism and this issue. First, it's the kind of argument I expect to hear from a teenager. It's childish and convinces no one. Secondly, while I agree that people who knowingly moved into an area where jets practice have no right to complain, the Navy's operations have expanded, its jets have gotten louder, and some people were in their home before the jets arrived. They do have a right to complain. Cut them some slack.

All you nay sayers can say is, Move! Be original,can't you come up with anything else?It's like the saying, "which came first the chicken or the egg?" I think Otto t. said it best "Jealousy is a disease". If you can't say anything original, just don't say anything. "Jet Noise MakesYou Dumb".hehehe

As a person living near Fentress, I can personally say the noise is pretty loud. The planes generally don't fly until 9:30 or later, although it is getting earlier now that it is getting darker earlier. When we bought our home, the noise level said 75db, but 75db should not vibrate windows. The only time that planes fly in and out of Fentress is at night, so, I'm sorry that I didnt sit outside of the home I was looking to buy at 11pm to listen for jets. To all the people who say that the plantiffs in the class action suit are greedy, well, maybe they are... but they have a legimate complaint. Personally, I believe in a strong military, just not flying over my house at 11pm. The planes are loud -- period.

Come one people..how long has that base been there? Now how long have you been there? Anyone who moves close to a base should be smart enough to realize "freedom has a price" I will listen to those planes all night and day, because I am proud that they are ours! If we keep fighting to have the govt pay our way for noise and the military leave could you imagine the taxes the commonwealth would come up with then. For heaven sake, do you complain when a fire truck goes by as well? If you dont like it..move!

I was involved in the first law suit. I did my homework before I purchased my home in Chesapeake. The house we purchased in 1994 was not in a fly zone. Since the coming of the Super Hornet, the fly zone has been extended out to my housing development. So, yes they do owe me for the lower house value. Second, I moved to a no fly zone because I served 24 years in Naval Aviation. I am ready for some quiet time.

The people who moved near the base and then complain about the noise should have realised perhaps this is a bad place to live since there are planes flying overhead when they first moved in.. now they're complaining about it. Duh! Should have thought it over, people.. and your lawsuit wont fly too well.

i wouldn't want the noise in my backyard not that i don't support what they are doing. that is why i wouln't buy a house anywhere near the base. people the base was there before your house went up why buy the house if you don't want the noise?

I recently stayed at the Beach and had the pleasure of seeing and hearing the Super Hornets practice. Momentarily I felt like I was back at a NASCAR race. It was amazing. But I didn't hear them again once I was inside. Personally I hope the Navy packs up and moves and takes their annual billion dollar payroll with them, that way VB can add more 'service oriented jobs' to the economy, i.e., call centers and hotel maids, jobs that pay barely above minimum wage. Won't that be fun, the McMansions will empty, the roads will empty, the economy will dive down! And to the poster who thinks attorneys will generate income in this area with the lawsuits, yea right! The level of greed in this country is just amazing!

Whiners just sell your dang houses and move! I am tired you're the "I want the government to pay my way in life" crowd. Keep flying guys and gals, make it loud and proud. I hear all the time and I love it!

To put it simply, that ain't gonna happen. The Navy will put their squadrons on perpetual deployment before they will pay that kind of money. While these people will finally get their silence, the social costs to the community will greatly outweigh any benefit they think was gained. As the sailors families break up due to the constant travel, more demands will be placed on social and judicial services, creating a real burden on the local and state taxpayers that does not exist today.

I bought my home before the zones were given out upon the purchase of our home. When the A 16's were flying it was then borderline tolerable. Now, it is absolutely unbearable when they fly over. I do have the freedom to choose whether I want to participate in the class action suit, and I do have the freedom of decision to move. Just like the military families, they chose to join the military as their occupation. I have the freedom of choosing to fight the level of noise. The lawsuit won't stop the noise, it will let the civilians make their opinions heard.

These Clowns involved in the lawsuits are a particularly disgusting Breed of Opportunist . I suppose they really don't care as long as there is a chance for some Free Money.

Houses are cheap in Iraq...

If you notice, the complainers are the ones the don't have a chance of getting the money. Jealousy is a disease.

Good night!!

the reason that the folks won't move is what ?? They won't win any free hush money from the Government if they move ??

After the greeding people get their free money, and the jet noise is still there 5 yrs later, do they sue again ?

Frankly, I am perplexed by the decision of the Navy to settle the first law suit. To me, it pulled the rug out from under those who believed that with the AICUZ program, people had advanced notice and should not blame anyone but themselves if they chose to buy in a noise zone. But to have the government lawyers then settle with people who bought in these zones anyway is hard to fathom. Afterall, even in the noise zones, the Navy AICUZ regulations allowed residential development so long as real estate notice was provided and sound attenuation was installed in new homes. The action of Navy lawyers who decided to settle seems to undermine what the Navy had been saying all those years. Does the left hand know what the right hand is doing?

My name is Dawn West, ABR, GRI, SRES Realtor with William E. Wood and Associates and I would be honored to work with your Real Estate Litigations team on this one. God Bless our freedom, our neighborhoods and the men, woman and families of our honored Military.
Please show your support for our bases, military and our aircrafts by going to the air show this weekend! " Take the family and enjoy life......oh, yea, free life with a lil noise!"

You can say do your homework before buying a home in VB, maybe it would help. But I did and was told where I live it was 75 decibels and that was also on the paperwork the city provided us with. Well, they lied my house rattles when jets fly over, the noise is much louder then a rock concert (that is what we were told it would be as loud as). I went to a meeting in 2003.six months after I bought my home, the XO from Oceana was there to talk about the jets, and he said it is 108 and will be 114!!! Am I mad yes!! This is not freedom! I wont/cant move and that is an immature comment to make to someone who does not like the jets and tried to avoid it! They owe us!

I understand that long time residents who have owned their houses since before the air base was put in have a right to complain. Those who built after the base was there have no room to complain. I lived right down the street from Oceana last year and while I didn't like the jet noise and it hurt my ears, I dealt with it because I knew that was the cost of living by the base. Most of the people involved in this lawsuit are just complaining because the noise got louder. helo with progress comes noise. I for one hope that there can be some kind of legislation enacted that prevents people from suing the military for frivolous reasons. If you don't like the noise leeve! Should the navy actually leave, this are would be a ghost town.

There may have been a time when the military and residents could have co-habitated with one another, but it's become increasingly obvious that that time is no longer. In 1980, the population of VB was 262,199. It's currently 425,257. How many cities can stand to almost double their population in 27 years, yet provide no additional land to build homes or businesses.

Charleston closed and has since replaced thousands jobs in the area and has a growing tech sector. Sounds like a place that's moving forward. I guess some people can't see the forest for the trees.

A. Grover...you really need to re-read the oath you took as a servicemember! Sucking the military dry will only hurt us in the end. Based on your comments, I'm glad not to be serving my country beside you.
Each and every person who bought a home in that area prior to 1942, needs to deal with it or move. Blaming the Navy and attempting to sue is ridiculous.
You people want your freedom and some even claim to support the military, you just don't want it in your backyard. I'm sorry, but you chose to buy a house there, and beggars can't be choosers.

I choose to purchase my home in a noize zone. I live with it and get over it. Mr. Grover, I have a feeling you are someone who would sue McDonalds after you spilled hot coffee on yourself. These people knew when they purchased their home that they were in a noise zone and to say the did not just makes them ignorant. You know the day you sign your contract what zone you are in. I have no sympathy what so ever.

When I purchased my home in VA Beach I was fully aware of the jet noise, which is why I bought a home near shore drive where it is relatively quiet. Homeowners who purchased their homes recently (last 65 years) should have done their homework in regards to the jet noise and should have purchased their home elsewhere. The US government should not be in the business of paying out money for those individuals who made foolish decisions and can't take responsibility for their own actions, i.e., buying a home near a jet base. There is absolutely no reason why the government should pay even a dime to homeowners who made the poor decision of property location. 5 words: Suck It UP -or- move...now's that's freedom.