The state of Michigan has another lawsuit on its hands, and this time, it’s from the NAACP.
The organization has filed a class-action civil lawsuit against Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder, along with six other state officials, for their role in Flint’s ongoing water crisis, in which lead from the Flint River has tainted the city’s water supply.
Seven Families in Flint File Class-Action Lawsuit Over Lead-Poisoned Water
“The people of Flint have been harmed through the failure of state officials to provide professional and accountable basic services mandated by federal law and expected by any person living in a major city,” NAACP President Cornell William Brooks said in a statement. “Our organization stands with the citizens of Flint to demand a clear timeline, deadline and price tag for fixing this crisis as well as effective remedies for the harms that have already occurred and complete compensation for each and every victim of this unimaginable tragedy.”
Three Michigan Officials Face Criminal Charges for Flint Water Crisis
The crisis has been going on for more than two years since the city switched its water source from Lake Huron to the Flint River in order to cut costs. The lawsuit, which was filed on behalf of both residents and local businesses, say that officials failed to properly treat the pipes to prevent corrosion and lead from seeping into the water.
More than 8,000 children have been exposed to lead poisoning in the last two years. Three government and environmental officials have been criminally charged and face up to five years in prison, though Gov. Snyder has not yet been formally accused of any wrongdoing.