Green-haired Black Mountain residents file lawsuit

Fred Maas, a San Diegan known for sustainable communities and clean technologies, spearheaded the developmet of the 5100-acre Black Mountain Ranch, an upscale development east of Fairbanks Ranch.

But two couples who live there have filed a putative class-action suit against Black Mountain in Superior Court, complaining that the copper plumbing is so defectiive that water arriving at homes has non-existent residual disinfectant levels and high levels of bacterial growth.

“The resulting copper in the water from the corrosion is so excessive that homeowners have to drink and bathe in water that is actually blue,” according to the suit. "Clothes and fixtures are stained," and “blonde hair [appears] green in color.”

The plaintiffs in the suit filed January 26 are Christian and Dominique Griffin and Brett and Lauren Pernicano. They charge strict liability and negligence. In similar earlier suits in Southern California, the developers have sought indemnification from water districts.