The US Supreme Court is allowing the citizens of Flint, Michigan to sue their city and government officials for not maintaining the infrastructure and knowingly allow high levels of lead to contaminate the water supply. Let's hear it for accountability of public "servants". From Reuters:
U.S. Supreme Court lets Flint, Michigan residents sue over water contamination
The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday let residents of Flint, Michigan pursue a civil rights lawsuit against the city and government officials that accused them of knowingly allowing the city’s water supply to become contaminated with lead.
The justices turned away two appeals by the city and the state and local officials of a lower court ruling that allowed the lawsuit to move forward. The lower court rejected a demand for immunity by the officials, finding that they violated the residents’ right to “bodily integrity” under the U.S. Constitution by providing the tainted water after switching water sources in a cost-cutting move in 2014.
What happened?
Flint switched its public water source from Lake Huron to the Flint River to reduce costs during a financial crisis. The corrosive river water caused lead to leach from pipes.
Lead poisoning can stunt children’s cognitive development. No level of exposure is considered safe.
The city switched back to Lake Huron water the next year. The contaminated river water also triggered an outbreak of bacteria-caused Legionnaires’ disease, which killed 12 people and sickened dozens of others.
Bone-headed move that was swept under the rug when the consequences were discovered. They were going to sit back and impare a generation of kids until this was discovered by an outside agency.
Rope. Tree. Some assembly required...
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