A group of West Islip residents is taking legal action against Good Samaritan Hospital, claiming that intense vibrations from nearby construction have caused structural damage to their homes, leaving them with costly repairs and disrupted lives.

One of the plaintiffs, Helen Jones, says her house has been trembling from construction activity for months. A cell phone video she recorded shows her home visibly shaking from the tremors.

“I’ve never experienced something like this,” said Jones, who has lived in her house for more than 40 years. The vibrations, she explained, have shifted the ground beneath her home, made her kitchen floor uneven, and caused cabinets to pull away from the walls.

“I’m not asking for anything more, I’m just asking to get what I had back and all the damage fixed,” Jones added.

Jones is among 31 homeowners represented by the law firm Agulnick Kremin, PC in a lawsuit that accuses Good Samaritan Hospital of damaging homes through “excavation and pile driving” as part of an ongoing construction project. The work is part of a federally funded flood resiliency initiative intended to reinforce the hospital and surrounding neighborhoods against future natural disasters.

According to attorney Scott Agulnick, the homeowners have faced a wide range of issues as a result of the vibrations.

“Cracks in the walls, cracks in the foundations, doors not closing properly,” Agulnick said, describing the scope of the alleged damage. “When that condition changes basically overnight, it’s very difficult for them to say ‘oh it’s just an old house.’”

Another plaintiff, David Roth, was overseas in Kuwait on deployment when his family experienced the tremors.

“She really thought there was an earthquake happening, everything was shaking in this house,” Roth said, referring to his wife’s reaction. Upon returning home, he discovered several issues, including a shifted window frame and numerous cracks in both the walls and ceilings.

"I want to see them actually help us fix our homes," said Roth. "That's the ultimate goal here."

In response to the lawsuit, Catholic Health, which operates Good Samaritan Hospital, released a statement asserting that they’ve taken meaningful steps to engage and assist local residents throughout the construction process.

“We want to assure the communities we serve that the article does not reflect the strong partnership and open dialogue we’ve worked hard to build with our neighbors,” the statement read. “Throughout the process, we’ve taken proactive steps to keep residents informed and address concerns.”

Catholic Health said that in June 2023, the hospital distributed letters to nearby homeowners requesting documentation, such as photographs, engineering assessments, and repair estimates, to assist contractors and insurance adjusters in resolving any claims. While some of those claims were reportedly addressed promptly, the hospital says other residents opted out of the process and instead filed suit.

The hospital further clarified that the construction work referenced in the lawsuit is unrelated to its new Patient Care Pavilion, which is still scheduled to open in December. Instead, they said the vibrations stem from a separate flood resiliency project funded by FEMA and managed by experienced contractors.

The lawsuit now moves forward as residents hope to recover damages and see their homes restored.

As the case unfolds, many affected residents remain in limbo, facing mounting repair costs and uncertainty over whether help will come. For Jones, Roth, and others, the hope is not just for compensation—but peace of mind.

Originally reported by Pei-Sze Cheng in NBC Newyork.