Neighbors of a north Minneapolis shingle factory filed a class-action lawsuit this month accusing the company of failing to control odors and pollutants they say have harmed their well-being.
Five northsiders signed on as initial plaintiffs in the suit against Owens Corning, which produces asphalt roofing shingles in the Shingle Creek neighborhood. The lawsuit comes four months after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) found the factory violated the Clean Air Act by emitting excessive sulfur dioxide pollutants.
The EPA credited neighbor complaints about odor for prompting inspectors to visit Owens Corning.
The class action nature of the suit invites all residents living within three quarters of a mile of the factory to join as plaintiffs. The smell and pollution from the factory is harming their ability to fully enjoy their property, plaintiffs argue.
“Stepping outside hurts our lungs,” plaintiffs Jennifer Castello and Jessica Scott said in a statement included in the suit that noted their dog recently died of cancer. “It’s also embarrassing to have friends and family visit and have to work around the smell.”
The lawsuit notes the June EPA violations and repeated complaints made to city and state officials about the odor coming from Owens Corning, including citations and fines issued by city inspectors in August 2025 and April 2026.
Named plaintiffs and attorneys in the case did not respond to requests for comment by press time. Owens Corning declined to comment, citing pending litigation.
The company was officially served the suit on Oct. 7, according to court filings.
Shingles have been produced at the factory since 1945, when the locally owned Lloyd A. Fry Roofing Co. began operation. Ohio-based Owens Corning bought the facility in 1977. Under city zoning codes, the facility is labeled non-conforming, meaning it doesn’t align with permitted uses in the area. Like many old factories in the Twin Cities, the residential neighborhoods around Owens Corning were redlined, the 20th century zoning practice that limited the ability of people of color to buy homes only in less desirable neighborhoods.
Owens Corning can and should do more to control odors from the factory, the lawsuit contends. It accuses the company of failing to invest in equipment and chemical additives that could mitigate the effect of odors and emissions from the factory.
“A properly operated, maintained, and managed facility will mitigate, prevent, and otherwise contain fugitive odor emissions by utilizing proper equipment, handling procedures, and storage at its facility,” the suit states.
Thousands of private homes lie within the initial class area. The suit accuses Owens Corning of private nuisance for harming people’s ability to enjoy their homes, public nuisance for hindering the ability to recreate in parks and streets, and negligence in operating the factory.
The lawsuit is seeking an undetermined amount in damages. No hearings are scheduled.
