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Lawsuit: Obama visit caused $676K in airport damage

President Barack Obama's entourage for a 2010 visit to Massachusetts caused $676,048 in damage to Marlborough Airport — and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has refused to compensate the company that runs the field, a suit filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court alleges.

Obama landed at the field on April 1, 2010, so Obama could visit an emergency bunker in the state.

Marlborough Airport Properties Inc. states in its complaint that prior to the visit, the squadron that runs the Marine One helicopter — the designation given to any helicopter carrying the president —established that the aircraft would not damage the tarmac. Indeed, the suit states, the helicopter "did not cause any property damage to the runway."

"However," the suit continues, "ground vehicles brought onto the airport by or under the Secret Service, such as, but not limited to, a 'foam truck,' which weighs approximately 44,000 pounds, (were) negligently driven onto the airport and proximately caused property damage in an amount of $676,048.13."

"Turf or grassed-in areas" also were "significantly damaged," the suit states.

"As to ground vehicles, there was no clearance in advance," the suit states.

The suit says the company asked the government for compensation and was denied.

"They stated we haven't shown or proven any negligence," Evans J. Carter, the lawyer for the airport operator, said in a telephone interview.

Marlborough Airport Properties is seeking a jury trial.

Obama has returned to the state several times since then. A vacation home the president uses on the resort island of Martha's Vineyard recently went up for sale. The Boston Business Journal has photos.