A visiting professor to Pittsburgh's Carnegie Mellon University sustained permanent hearing damage when she was in range of a giant speaker police used to disperse protesters, and has filed a lawsuit, as reported in Bloomberg Businessweek and other media outlets.
The event, occurring on September 24, 2009, involved the Group of 20 economic summit.
Pittsburgh police chose to use a "Long Range Acoustic Device" on the crowd of protestors.
The suit claims that Professor K.P., a bystander, had her hearing damaged due to the machine that "emits harmful, pain-inducing sounds over long distances."
Several are named in the suit: the city, five unidentified police officials, three operators of the device and a supervisor. A "policy making official", responsible for directing that the device be used that day, is also named.
Dan Regan, the solicitor representing the Pittsburgh Law Department, would not comment.
The Long Range Acoustic Device gives off a sound like a that of a car alarm, as well as voice commands. The sounds, in a 30 or 60 degree cone, reaches up to two miles.
The volume, at 140 to 150 decibels that can travel up to three feet, is louder than that of a jet engine, but allegedly lessens over the distance traveled.
The manufacturer's spokesman, Robert Putnam, said that the unit puts a "big spotlight of sound that you can shine on people."
American Technology Corporation in San Diego makes the device. One of its uses is for cargo ships in keeping pirate ships out of the area of U.S. war ships.
K.P., now back at the University of Missouri, is represented by the ACLU.
In an ACLU news release, K.P. said, "The intensity of being hit at close range by a high-pitched sound blast designed to deter pirate boats and terrorists at least a quarter mile away is indescribable. The sound vibrates through you and causes pain throughout your body, not only in the ears. I thought I might die."
K.P., allegedly shocked by having the device on a school campus, said that the "device was being promoted for use on American citizens and the general public."
Putnam said that the device has been used stateside for helping people exit beach festivals in San Diego as well as some SWAT operations.
K.P. had entered the protest area, on her bicycle, because she was doing research for a book and needed to observe the protestors.
She was approximately 100 feet away from the device when it sounded.
According to the suit, K.P. "suffered immediate pain in her ears, and she became nauseous and dizzy. She developed a severe headache. She was forced to sit down and was unable to walk."
K.P. now has "permanent nerve hearing loss" and other related symptoms due to the incident. She also said in the lawsuit that her constitutional rights were violated.
If you have been hurt due to the actions of a police officer, or by the faulty use of police equipment, contact a personal injury lawyer from our directory for help. Monetary compensation may be awarded for your suffering.