Billboard Firm Sues Couple For 'Harassment' Over Bright Sign
WEST KITTANNING (KDKA) -- The Colbergs have lived in their West Kittanning home for decades, and things were great for a long time until they say an LED billboard went up across the way.
Since then, they've had lots of problems, and now they are being sued because of it.
The Colbergs say the 12-foot by 40-foot electronic billboard flashes 720 times an hour, and it's all but driven them out of their senses.
"The flashing is enough to drive you crazy," says Patty Colberg.
Owned by Oliver Outdoor Advertising and installed in 2012, the board dominates the hill across from where the Colbergs and 20 other families live.
The Colbergs say they tried to talk to the company. First asking to at least dim the sign at night; Oliver Advertising did, but it didn't help.
Patty then asked if the sign could be shut off between midnight and 6 a.m.
"He said, it will never happen," she says.
Next step for the Colbergs was to inform advertisers using the display of the problems it was causing.
KDKA's Ross Guidotti: "All these that you called, did you ever tell them to stop advertising with Oliver?"
Patty: "Never once."
Then came Christmas Eve, a package was delivered to the Colbergs and it wasn't from Santa.
"I get a knock at the door from the Armstrong County Sheriff's Office serving us papers that we're being sued," said Patty.
The plaintiff - Oliver Advertising. The damages sought - $100,000. What grounds??
The Colbergs say the grounds were "because we've interrupted their advertising business."
The suit clam is Patty's calls to Oliver Outdoor Advertising clients resulted in lost revenues after ads were pulled.
But Patty maintains, "All we want is it shut off at night."
And the Colbergs aren't alone. Signatures fill pages of a petition asking for Oliver Outdoor Advertising to hit the off switch at midnight.
"I don't think anybody is asking much, only asking we have our little abode and live our years out peacefully," says Andrew.
KDKA called Oliver Advertising to talk about the problem; however, no one returned the calls. For now, the Colbergs say if it has to go to court so be it.
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