HOA fined sick woman $600k for protesting pesticide-filled carpet. She just won $2.5 million in court
It all began in 2009, and 17 years later, she finally won
Disputes between homeowners and HOAs are common, but many don't end with a $2.5 million verdict. Chris Kaszynski, a transgender woman from Prospect Heights, won a federal lawsuit against the Rob Roy Country Club Village Condo Association after years of legal battle. It all began in 2009 when she asked to remove the carpeting from her unit. She believed it trapped pesticides that continued to aggravate her health conditions. The HOA denied her request and sued her for $600,000 in 2010, claiming she violated bylaws that required units to have wall-to-wall carpeting. ABC News reporter Jason Knowles (@jasonknowlesabc7) shared the story on Instagram on June 30, 2026, which has received 280 likes and 34 comments.
A 17-year long battle
Kaszynski was fined almost $600,000 when the judge gave a default judgment because she missed a court appearance due to her illness. She sued the association back after they claimed she had allegedly violated the bylaws. She told Knowles, "It's unbelievable that they're even alleging this because it's just a groundless false claim. That's what it is. It was completely false from the very beginning." She had requested the association to stop spraying pesticides and chemicals outside her unit because it was affecting her health, but they did not listen. After 17 years, she finally won. "I'm very happy because it's been a long, hard, long fought battle," Kaszynski told the news outlet.
Expert backed Kaszynski's complaints
Matthew Amarin, Kaszynski's attorney, also spoke to ABC and said, "I think it means confirmation. It's been years and years. She's been telling this HOA, 'You're making me sicker. You're making me sicker.' And she's been ignored. And when a third party or 12 jurors listened to the evidence, they sided with Chris." Benjamin Shain, the vice chairman of psychiatry at Endeavor Health, also chimed in, "There are some people who are exquisitely sensitive to pesticides and other environmental toxins." These pesticides could cause "major flare-ups, not being able to breathe or not being able to walk," and could even lead to "depression and anxiety."
Americans are against pesticides
A nationwide survey conducted in 2022 revealed that 30% of adults saw usage of pesticides in agriculture as a 'very serious problem,' while 5% thought it was not a problem at all. While the survey focused on pesticide use in agriculture, it emphasized the health concerns Americans had about the potential health risks associated with pesticides. Especially in Kaszynski's case, her attorney revealed, "Chris has an extensive medical history, and her doctors advised removing the carpet from her unit because environmental toxins can get trapped in the carpet and she continuously is re-exposed to those toxins."
Supporting others with the $2.5 million
Armed with $2.5 million, Kaszynski is planning to use the money to deal with the lawsuit the association filed against her, as well as to take care of the health issues she faced while living in the unit. Kaszynski also wanted to use the money to help others and raise awareness, "I'm going to hopefully use it to probably start some sort of organization of my own, some charitable work where I can use it to help individuals who are in positions like me."
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