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Starting this week, tens of thousands of people in Flint can begin filing damage claims as part of a $626 million settlement of civil lawsuits in the Flint water crisis.
In 2014, the city of Flint’s drinking water source was switched from Detroit’s water system to the Flint River. But the river water was not properly treated. The improperly treated water damaged city pipes releasing lead and other contaminants into the drinking water. The water source was switched back in late 2015.
The state of Michigan is putting up $600 million of the settlement tied to the city’s lead-tainted drinking water. The city of Flint is contributing $20 million. The remaining money is coming from McLaren Flint hospital and Rowe Professional Services.
There are 30 different categories people can use to apply for damages.
Michael Pitt is the co-lead counsel in the settlement. He says 21 of the categories apply only to children, who are most at-risk of long-term health problems tied to lead exposure.
“Eighty percent of the settlement funds are going toward the children who have been injured as a result of what happened in Flint,” said Pitt during a zoom conference last week.
The settlement also provides compensation for adults with health issues and suffering economic or property losses.
More than 50,000 registered claimants have until the middle of May to file documents needed to qualify for a share of the settlement. The timetable for paying claims is unclear, as is the amount people can expect to receive.
This is only a partial settlement of outstanding claims connected to the Flint water crisis.
Lawsuits against two engineering firms and the federal Environmental Protection Agency remain in the courts.
Catch more news on Great Lakes Now:
Michigan to pay $300K to only staffer fired over Flint water
Seven Years On: The Flint water crisis has yet to conclude
Featured image: Steve Carmody/Michigan Radio
1 Comment
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Im a flint born resident, lived here most of my life, and had to Google this to find out about it. They’re not letting people know anything, that qualify for this. I had perfect teeth the year this started, I’ve now got less than half my teeth and they’re rotting because I’ve had no enamel and the corrosive issues have eaten my teeth. Snyder wasn’t charged with what this was, its literally treason undthe constitution. He should be hung publicly, anything less is neglect.
