Federal judge approves $626 million Flint, Michigan water settlement

Nov. 10 (Reuters) – A federal judge on Wednesday approved a $ 626 million settlement for victims of the Flint, Michigan lead water crisis in a case brought by tens of thousands of residents affected by the contaminated water .

“The settlement achieved here is a remarkable achievement for many reasons, not least because it establishes a comprehensive compensation program and a uniform schedule for each qualified participant,” said US District Judge Judith Levy in a 178-page order.

At the beginning of the year, the judge tentatively approved a partial settlement of claims brought against the state by victims of the water crisis. Continue reading

Flint’s troubles began in 2014 after the city switched its water supply from Lake Huron to the Flint River to save costs. Corrosive river water washed lead from the pipes, contaminated the drinking water and broke out Legionnaires’ disease.

The Flint water crisis was one of the country’s worst health crises in recent years. The case became a symbol of racial inequality in the United States when it struck a city of approximately 100,000 people, more than half of whom are African American.

The contamination led to several lawsuits from parents, who said their children had dangerously high levels of lead in their blood, which could lead to developmental disorders. Lead can be toxic and children are particularly at risk.

Former Michigan governor Rick Snyder was charged in January with deliberate negligence on two counts of lead poisoning of drinking water in Flint. Continue reading

Payouts from the settlement approved on Wednesday are made according to a formula that targets more money to younger applicants and to those who can prove a major breach. The Michigan attorney general had previously said the deal would be considered the largest in the state’s history.

“While this is a significant victory for Flint, we have a way to prevent Americans from being systematically poisoned in their own homes, schools and workplaces,” Corey Stern, an attorney for the plaintiffs, said in a statement following the order of the judge on Wednesday.

Reporting by Tyler Clifford and Kanishka Singh; Edited by Tim Ahmann and Karishma Singh

https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/federal-judge-approves-626-million-flint-michigan-water-settlement-2021-11-10/