Nine Hood County property owners have sued MARA Holdings Inc. in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, alleging that the company’s Bitcoin-mining facility in Granbury created a continual private nuisance. Filed on May 1, 2026, the complaint seeks damages above $1 million and frames the dispute as a health, property-value and regulatory test for a major public crypto miner.
The case, listed as No. 4:26-cv-00534, adds new pressure to a local conflict that has already produced citations, earlier federal litigation and a failed incorporation effort by residents seeking local noise-control authority.
Residents Allege 24-Hour Noise and Health Effects
The plaintiffs live between 0.01 and 0.89 miles from the Granbury facility. They allege that industrial cooling fans operated around the clock and generated noise, vibration and low-frequency sound that entered homes and disrupted daily life.
The complaint lists alleged health effects including migraines, tinnitus, vertigo, sleep disruption, anxiety and elevated blood pressure. It also claims the facility depressed property values and affected pets and livestock.
The lawsuit brings claims for private nuisance, negligence, intentional infliction of emotional distress and restitution. The plaintiffs requested a jury trial and quantified damages above $1 million, while some reports suggest plaintiffs have discussed claims approaching $10 million.
This filing follows earlier federal cases, including Adair v. Marathon Digital Holdings and Engle v. MARA Holdings, which were consolidated before Judge Reed O’Connor in April 2026. A separate state-court case backed by Earthjustice also remains active after removal and remand activity in Hood County.
MARA Points to Mitigation as Litigation Expands
MARA has said it made significant mitigation efforts after acquiring the Granbury site in January 2024. The company reported deactivating 95 air-cooled units, building a partial sound barrier and converting roughly 67% of the facility to liquid immersion cooling.
An independent sound survey dated July 18, 2024 reportedly showed noise falling from about 78 dB to 63 dB after MARA’s operational changes. A later county-commissioned study recorded ambient levels near the site around 60 decibels, with neighborhood readings between 35 and 53 decibels, though that study noted it could not confirm normal mine operations during monitoring.
The enforcement history remains significant. Hood County Constable John D. Shirley issued 37 citations to the facility through April 17, 2024, citing the Texas statute that presumes noise above 85 decibels unreasonable after notice. A jury later acquitted a plant manager on some violations, though reporting said jurors still considered the noise excessive.
Residents also tried to pursue political control. In late 2025, Mitchell Bend voters narrowly rejected incorporation as a city, a move that would have allowed a local noise ordinance because Texas counties lack that authority. The proposal failed by 34 votes out of 138 ballots cast.
The litigation could affect more than one site. The outcome may shape how large Bitcoin miners weigh cooling technology, remediation spending and community relations as industrial-scale mining operations expand near residential areas.