in Oregon, Elderly Couple Sues Neighbor for $200,000 for Alleged Foul Smell Coming from Her Tiny Home

The couple said they have suffered a variety of health complications due to the stench

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An elderly Oregon couple is suing their neighbor for more than $200,000
John and Trudy Benjamin claim a tiny home on Karen Ward's property emits a bad smell
The pair said they have suffered a variety of health complications due to the stench

A Portland couple is suing their neighbor for more than $200,000 due to an alleged foul odor coming from a tiny home on their driveway.

John and Trudy Benjamin have filed a lawsuit against Karen Ward, stating that they've been forced to readjust their lives at their home in Parkrose Heights after a tiny home appeared beside Ward's residence last summer, according to a complaint obtained by PEOPLE.

Trudy, 67, and John, 77, have lived in their property for over 40 years. Trudy recalled to Oregon Live that the smell from the tiny house gradually became overpowering to the point where she couldn't enjoy gardening or spend any time relaxing outdoors.

“My husband started walking by and started smelling it, and he said, ‘My God, what's that?' ” she told the outlet. “And I said, ‘Yeah, I've been smelling it for a while.' ”

Trudy claimed to Oregon Live that on at least one occasion, a friend could even detect the stench coming off of their clothes.

According to the complaint, the couple said they have "suffered respiratory illness, nausea, lightheadedness and headaches."

John specifically "suffered one or more falls, due to the dizziness and/or nausea and/or respiratory problems created by the Tiny Home chemical toilet fumes," the complaint alleges.

"The fumes-induced falls have caused significant injuries to plaintiff John Benjamin’s knee, including having to undergo surgery for a bone fragment in his knee," the legal document adds.

The couple believes that the contents of the chemical toilet in Ward's tiny home have "leaked or been poured" onto the ground below it, per the complaint.

According to Oregon Live, Karl Anuta, the couple's lawyer, said he suspects a toxic gas may have been created in an attempt to neutralize the smell.

Anuta said the Benjamins emailed Ward their concerns about the odor in October 2025, and then again in December, February and March.

Ward — who doesn't have a lawyer, per Oregon Live — responded with plans to install a composting toilet and explained that the chemical toilet is routinely pumped, the outlet said. The Benjamins said Ward also spoke about trying to get the tiny home hooked up to a sewer line to flush away the toilet's contents after each use.

Anuta has advised Ward to contact her homeowner's insurance to get a lawyer, per Oregon Live.

Ward said in an email to Oregon Live that her tiny home “had an RV toilet” and “portable septic tank” that came installed in the unit. However, she said they were both removed in late April due to a leak or spill, but necessary cleaning will be done.

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