A man’s home is his castle right? Maybe not anymore.
Edwin Gray of Washington D.C. has been told by a Superior Court judge that he can no longer smoke in the privacy of his own home, WJLA reports.
Gray lives in a row house where he is physically connected to the adjacent homes. Neighbors who moved in next door last year claim smoke from Gray’s house is getting into their home through a hole in the basement. The neighbors, citing fears about the health of their children, have filed suit and for the moment have gotten a temporary court order against Gray.
The new neighbors tried to get Gray to stop, but when he wouldn’t they took him to court, WJLA reports. They want an injunction and $500,000 in damages.
Gray, who has been smoking inside his house his whole life, is not going down without a fight.
Secondhand smoke can be harmful to children, causing respiratory problems, ear infections and even sudden infant death syndrome, but whether that justifies dictating what a man can do in his own home has sparked a serious debate.
Some states have banned smoking in the car when children are inside. Many cities have passed smoking restrictions on bars and restaurants in recent years, but this new court order is an uncommon move.
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