Some 5,000 Groningen residents claim compensation for immaterial damages
Over 5 thousand Groningen residents submitted a joint claim against NAM for compensation for immaterial damages suffered through gas extraction in the province. The claim was filed with the court in Assen, which awarded damages to 127 Groningen residents in March, NOS reports.
NAM appealed against the March ruling, but the lawyers representing the new group of claimants do not want to wait for the appeal. According to the law firm, thousands of new victims came forwards since the March ruling. This includes homeowners and a large group of tenants, whose housing organizations informed them that they can claim compensation.
Immaterial damage includes damage to living enjoyment. "It involves fears, worries and feelings of insecurity. The victims are also faced with situations in strengthening their homes. They have to live somewhere else for a time and have contractors and damage-experts in their homes", one of the lawyers said to NOS.
The claimants want NAM to acknowledge liability. They also want the court to rule on a compensation system in which all cases are divided into different categories.
Gas extraction regularly cause earthquakes in Groningen. Following a strong earthquake in Zeerijp in January, the government decided to gradually reduce gas production in the province to zero.
