Lawyers file claim EPA Michigan water crisis

reuters ^

[StCloudMoose]

Lawyers for residents of Flint, Michigan, have filed a $220.2 million damages claim alleging negligence on the part of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency contributed to dangerous lead levels in the city's water supply.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, Michael Pitt said his firm Royal Oak, Michigan's Pitt McGehee Palmer & Rivers, along with others, had filed an administrative complaint on Monday with the EPA alleging injuries to over 500 people. They said they would file a similar complaint next week covering 250 more Flint residents.

Federal law requires that such complaints be filed as precursors to actual lawsuits against government agencies like the EPA.

The complaint comes days after two Michigan state officials and a Flint employee were charged with criminal offenses in the crisis.

Flint was under control of a state-appointed emergency manager in April 2014 when it switched its source of water from Detroit's municipal system to the Flint River to save money.

[doberville]

Hmmm. This is the second water catastrophe attributed to the EPA.

The other is the river in NM polluted by toxins from a gold mine.

[Yo-Yo]

Hmmm. This is the second water catastrophe attributed to the EPA.

Don't be fooled. The left is trying it's darndest to lay this squarely at the feet of Republican Michigan Governor Rick Snyder.

[be-baw]

Didn’t Snyder appoint Flint’s emergency manager? Was it he who made the decision to switch water supplies?

There’s no question the State of Michigan department of environmental quality is complicit here. The MDEQ has primacy for enforcing the Federal safe drinking water act in Michigan. A lot of it’s staff screwed up and are in serious trouble right now.

And Snyder is not responding effectively to the problem at all. He’s really trying to do what makes sense but he’s got the whole grievance industry on his ass.

[Wolfie]

I suspect there is plenty of blame to go around, affecting all sides and all Parties. History shows us that in such cases nobody suffers any consequences but a few underlings.

[floozy22]

During the mid-1980s dairy farmers decided there was too much cheap milk at the supermarket. So the government bought and slaughtered 1.6 million cows. How come the government never does anything like this with lawyers? - P.J. O'Rourke

Q: How does an attorney sleep?
A: First he lies on one side, then he lies on the other.

Q: What do you call a smiling, courteous person at a bar association convention?
A: The caterer.

Q: Why did God invent lawyers?
A: So that real estate agents would have someone to look down on.

Q: What's the difference between a vacuum cleaner and a lawyer on a motorcycle?
A: The vacuum cleaner has the dirt bag on the inside.

[Vinnie]

Wasn’t it the city council that decided to change water supplies to save money?

They keep trying to lay this on the governor.

[Vinnie]

What’s the similarity between a lawyer and a sperm?

They both have a 5 million to one chance of becoming human.

[floozy22]

LOL!!

I used to think better of lawyers, but recent events have convinced me that they are all lying scumbags who would sell their own mothers to gain favor with their political/government cronies.

[Recompennation]

Money grubbing lawyers and entitlement class sought out clients. Just more redistributive efforts. Prove losses.

[Yo-Yo]

Didn’t Snyder appoint Flint’s emergency manager?

Yes. Flint was put under an emergency manager by Democratic Governor Granholm, but the emergency manager during the water crisis was another Democrat, who was appointed by Snyder.

Was it he who made the decision to switch water supplies?

No, neither Snyder or emergency manager Darnell Earley made the decision to switch water supplies. That decision was made by the Flint city council, and approved by Earley. When Detroit was informed that Flint was going to change water sources in two years to a consortium supplying water from Lake Huron, Detroit immediately cut off their water supply to Flint. Because the new water source was at least 18 months away from being ready, Flint was then forced to use water from their emergency backup source, the Flint river. The Flint DPW failed to properly treat the river water, so excess lead was leeched out of the lead service pipes.

After the entire mess blew up, Detroit agreed to supply water again to Flint until the new alternative source is ready for use.

And Snyder is not responding effectively to the problem at all. He’s really trying to do what makes sense but he’s got the whole grievance industry on his ass.

The bastion of conservative thought, Mother Jones, created this chart to demonstrate the severity of the lead issue. Snyder is supposed to resign over that small bump between the two vertical lines.

[be-baw]

Ahhh. I’ve been following the situation pretty closely and I appreciate you sharing your insight into the politics involved. I see no reason for Snyder to resign, but I’m sure the pressure on him will continue. So far I’ve not heard anything about a recall, but it wouldn’t surprise me...

[SuziQ]

Didn’t Snyder appoint Flint’s emergency manager? Was it he who made the decision to switch water supplies?

Snyder may have appointed the emergency manager, but that was probably after the fact. The decision to change the water supply was made locally, and that means the Democrats in charge did it, which is why the media is concentrating their ire on Snyder. They'll never blame the Democrats, if there is a Republican in the mix.