Flint, MI: Michigan State Governor Rick Snyder, together with other state officials and city officials for Flint, are facing a lead poisoning class action lawsuit over allegations that lead-contaminated water has caused irreversible brain damage in the children of at least seven families in Flint.
According to the lawsuit, Michigan officials violated the Safe Drinking Water Act and the Environmental Protection Agency' Lead and Copper Rule. Although this is not the first class-action lawsuit to be filed over the alleged lead-contaminated water, it is the first to be brought claiming violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act.
According to the complaint, the list of damages sustained by the children include but is not limited to: physical and psychological injuries, learning and other permanent disabilities, weight loss, stunted growth, anemia, headaches, abdominal and other pain, mental anguish, and emotional distress.
Melissa Lightfoot, a plaintiff and 33-year old mother of three, said her children were exposed and suffered from issues such as hair loss, rashes, digestive problems, seizure-like convulsions, plus high lead and copper levels in their blood and brains.
The lawsuit is seeking a jury trial and compensation for all families affected by the contaminated water. The lawsuit states "tens of thousands"of residents were affected. According to the complaint, city and state officials allegedly were aware of the dangerous lead levels in 2014, but violated federal law by not doing anything to eliminate the risk. It also states "they actually took affirmative steps to downplay the severity of the contamination from its citizens."
Plaintiffs are represented by Hunter J. Shkolnik of Napoli Shkolnik PLLC.
