During a 2017 light rail construction project, idling TriMet buses used to shuttle passengers between stations parked outside a Goose Hollow apartment complex and emitted “enormous quantities of toxic diesel fumes” into the building for nearly a month, a lawsuit alleges.

Joanne Denzer, 66, and Thom Gambaro, 71, filed a lawsuit in Multnomah County Circuit Court on Monday, alleging the transit agency ignored repeated complaints about the daily presence of idling buses outside the Chapman Court Apartments on Southwest Yamhill Street in Portland in 2017.

They say the transit agency violated federal and state air quality standards and “intentionally, recklessly or negligently discharged particles and substances” of a toxic nature into the nearby apartment.

TriMet declined to comment, citing the pending litigation.

The lawsuit claims Denzer “was poisoned” by the fumes and lost consciousness in early May 2017 while walking to the apartment. She bruised her face and hip as a result of the fall, the lawsuit said.

Gambaro experienced “severe shortness of breath and bronchial pain” during the weeks-long MAX project. Subsequent medical evaluations showed he suffered from heart disease. The lawsuit said he was ultimately diagnosed with lung cancer.

The lawsuit said TriMet’s “conduct” and refusal to stop buses from idling “was a substantial factor” in Gambaro’s health issues. They said they saw 93 buses idling, calling that a tiny fraction of the number involved during the closure, and said just five drivers turned off their engines at their request.

The lawsuit seeks $50,000 for Denzer’s medical damages and $10 million for Gambaro’s damages.

The MAX project occurred in 2017 roughly between April 29th and May 20th.

The transit agency, which has the 11th largest bus fleet in the country, last month celebrated the official debut of its first zero emission bus, part of a long-range effort to transition away from its diesel-emitting fleet by or before 2040.

-- Andrew Theen

atheen@oregonian.com

503-294-4026

@andrewtheen

Visit subscription.oregonlive.com/newsletters to get Oregonian/OregonLive journalism delivered to your email inbox.