when did michigan attorney general get involved in flint water crisis

by Dr. Naomie Block 3 min read

In late 2018, Attorney General Dana Nessel was elected and upon taking office in 2019, she made decisions to put a conflict wall in place that allowed her to lead the civil litigation into the Flint Water Crisis.

How many people were charged in the Flint water crisis?

Attorney General - Flint Water Crisis Investigation. In late 2018, Attorney General Dana Nessel was elected and upon taking office in 2019, she made decisions to put a conflict wall in place that allowed her to lead the civil litigation into the Flint Water Crisis.

Did Michigan lawmakers approve $28m more for Flint water crisis?

Jan 14, 2021 · Ex-governor, 8 other former Michigan officials charged in Flint water crisis Charges stem from "the largest criminal investigation in the history of the state of Michigan," the attorney general says.

What was the name of the prosecutor in the Flint water crisis?

Jun 22, 2016 · M ichigan Attorney General Bill Schuette filed a lawsuit on Wednesday against seven companies involved in the Flint water crisis, claiming their “acts and …

Who will replace flood in court for Flint water prosecutions?

Schuette’s second legal action took place on June 22, 2016, when he filed a civil suit against water infrastructure firms Veolia and Lockwood, Andrews & Newnam for their roles in the Flint water poisoning crisis.

Who was the lawyer in the Flint water crisis?

Jonathan Amarilio is joined by Corey Stern, lead counsel for the plaintiffs injured in the Flint, Michigan water crisis. Corey discusses the origins of the water crisis, the role citizen advocates played in seeking government accountability, and how he became involved in the case.Aug 25, 2021

When did the Flint water crisis become public?

On April 25, 2014 officials from Flint, Michigan switched the city's water supply to the Flint River as a cost-cutting measure for the struggling city. In doing so, they unwittingly introduced lead-poisoned water into homes, in what would become a massive public-health crisis.

Who was the governor of Michigan during the water crisis?

In January 2021, Snyder was among those charged for his role in the crisis. At the ongoing trial, Snyder pleaded not guilty to two misdemeanor charges....Rick SnyderSnyder in 201348th Governor of MichiganIn office January 1, 2011 – January 1, 2019LieutenantBrian Calley12 more rows

What are three of the public departments involved in the Flint Water investigation?

In the third legal action of the investigation, today a total of 18 criminal charges (12 felonies and 6 misdemeanors) were filed in Genesee County's 67th District Court in Flint against six individuals, three from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) and three from the Michigan Department of Health ...

Does Flint Michigan have clean water 2021?

As of June, just over 10,000 pipes have been replaced in Flint and the city's website says it is in the final stage of replacement, but even still residents struggle to trust that the water is safe to drink. Even once Flint water is safe, there will be some residents who will never trust or drink Flint water again, Dr.Oct 27, 2021

Does Flint Michigan have clean water yet?

Flint broke the internet when its crisis went viral. As you would expect, things have changed for the better — meaning the water is technically clean — but the scars of the scandal may last far longer. The city of Flint has replaced over 10,000 pipes to deal with lead in the water.Jan 17, 2022

Has anyone been charged in the Flint water crisis?

Worthy today announced that after 12 months of grand jury proceedings nine individuals have been indicted on a total of 42 counts related to a series of alleged actions and inactions that created the historic injustice of the Flint Water Crisis.Jan 14, 2021

Who is Miguel Del Toral?

Miguel Del Toral is a former regional groundwater regulations manager for the Environmental Protection Agency. He was one of the first people to warn the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality that there was a problem with the water in Flint, and that they needed to use corrosion control chemicals to rectify it.

What happened to Rick Snyder?

Snyder, who served until 2019, is charged with failing to timely declare an emergency in Flint, which used the Flint River for drinking water in 2014-15 without properly treating it to reduce corrosion. Lead in old pipes contaminated the system over 18 months.Mar 18, 2021

What is the status of Flint Michigan water?

Flint Water Quality Update Since July 2016, the city of Flint's water system has met state and federal standards for lead in drinking water for 11 consecutive monitoring periods. The latest six-month round of monitoring shows Flint's 90th percentile at 7 parts per billion (ppb), well below the requirement of 15 ppb.

How was the Flint Michigan water crisis fixed?

Replacing the pipes in Flint Michigan would be the most efficient and complete solution. Replacing the lead pipes with plastic pipes along with clean water while switching back to the city of Detroit's water supply for now would most likely be the only possible permanent solution.

What was the Flint water crisis?

One of the few bright spots of the Flint water crisis was the response of everyday citizens who, faced with the failure of city, state, and federal agencies to protect them, united to force the government to do its job. On the heels of the release of test results in the fall of 2015 showing elevated lead levels in Flint’s water—and its children— local residents joined with NRDC and other groups to petition the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to launch an immediate emergency federal response to the disaster. The EPA failed to act, which only spurred residents on.

What was the problem with Flint water?

Flint’s water supply was plagued by more than lead. The city’s switch from Detroit water to the Flint River coincided with an outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease (a severe form of pneumonia) that killed 12 and sickened at least 87 people between June 2014 and October 2015.

What is the intent of the EPA to sue Flint?

The notice alleges several failures to comply with the Safe Drinking Water Act , including numerous violations of the federal Lead and Copper Rule.

How much money did the EPA give Flint?

The EPA provides $100 million from the federal funding appropriated in December 2016 to accelerate and expand the city’s replacement of lead service lines in Flint and to make other water infrastructure improvements.

What is the Flint River?

For more than a century, the Flint River, which flows through the heart of town, has served as an unofficial waste disposal site for treated and untreated refuse from the many local industries that have sprouted along its shores, from carriage and car factories to meatpacking plants and lumber and paper mills. The waterway has also received raw sewage from the city’s waste treatment plant, agricultural and urban runoff, and toxics from leaching landfills. Not surprisingly, the Flint River is rumored to have caught fire—twice.

Why did Flint declare a state of emergency?

Newly elected Flint mayor Karen Weaver declares a state of emergency in response to the elevated lead levels in the city’s water. Over the next month, Governor Snyder declares a state of emergency for Genesee County, and President Obama declares a federal emergency in Flint, freeing up funds for federal support.

What is the plan of Governor Snyder?

Governor Snyder announces a plan to ensure residents have access to safe drinking water, including testing school water for lead (which soon reveals elevated lead levels at schools), distributing thousands of free water filters, and expand ing water and blood testing. Soon after, the governor approves $9 million in funding to address Flint’s water crisis.

When did Snyder announce the Flint water crisis?

January 6 – Governor Snyder apologises again for the Flint water crisis. January 12 – The Michigan National Guard mobilizes to help distribute water in Flint. January 13 – Governor Snyder announces that an outbreak of Legionnaires' disease occurred in the Flint area between June 2014 and November 2015.

When did Flint change its water source?

In April 2014, during a budget crisis, Flint changed its water source from treated Detroit Water and Sewerage Department water (sourced from Lake Huron and the Detroit River) to the Flint River. Residents complained about the taste, smell, and appearance of the water.

Why did Flint switch back to DWSD?

This vote was motivated by residential complaints and recommendations from Veolia North America to prevent the city from further violating the Safe Drinking Water Act. Ambrose disagreed with the reintroduction of the Detroit water source. Ambrose argued, "Flint water today is safe by all Environmental Protection Agency and Michigan Department of Environmental Quality standards, and the city is working daily to improve its quality." In August 2015, it was found that local organizations observed that high concentrations of chloride caused the water to be orange and that the water contained high levels of lead. The lead levels were caused by the omission of orthophosphate treatments, which led to excessive pipe corrosion. Consequently, the three organizations, "... delivered more than 26,000 online petition signatures to Mayor Dayne Walling, demanding the city end its use of the Flint River and reconnect to the Detroit water system." Flint's water supply was switched back to DWSD in October 2015. Subsequently, Flint started adding additional orthophosphate to the water to rebuild the pipe lining.

How much does it cost to upgrade Flint Water Plant?

On January 19, 2017, an engineer at the Flint Water Plant said the facility is in need of $60 million worth of upgrades, which wouldn't be finished until well into 2019. On February 7, 2017, another report said the cost would be $108 million.

What is the Michigan class action lawsuit?

On January 14, 2016, a separate class-action lawsuit against Snyder, the state of Michigan, the city of Flint, Earley, Walling, and Croft was filed by three Flint residents in Michigan Circuit Court in Genesee County. This suit targets lower-level officials who (under Michigan law) do not have immunity from claims arising from gross negligence. A separate suit was filed in January 2016 in the Michigan Court of Claims against the governor and state agencies; that suit alleges violations of the state constitution. In Michigan, the Court of Claims is the only court with subject-matter jurisdiction over claims against the state and its subdivisions.

What happened to Snyder in 2021?

New criminal charges were filed against Snyder and other officials by the state of Michigan on January 13, 2021, for their roles in the water crisis, with Snyder facing two counts of willful neglect of duty that could lead to up to one year in prison and up to $1,000 in fines. The charges stem from the decision to switch the water supply from the Detroit water system to the Flint River in 2014 as a cost-cutting measure without properly assessing the potential impact on residents' health.

What water authority does Genesee County use?

In 2011, Genesee County initiated the switch to the Karegnondi Water Authority (KWA); the KWA would supply water to both Genesee County and Flint. On March 25, 2013, the purchase of 16 million US gallons (61,000 m 3) per day from the KWA was approved by the Flint City Council. The KWA informed the council that they could dig to Lake Huron (the new water supply) in 30 months using a bored tunnel. Ed Kurtz, Flint's emergency manager, along with Mayor Dayne Walling and Flint City Council, approved the action and awaited the State Treasurer's approval. Following this decision, the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD) negotiated with Flint officials by offering to restructure water payments. Flint declined, preferring to use KWA.

Who was the former governor of Michigan charged with the Flint Water Crisis?

By David K. Li and Erin Einhorn. Nine former Michigan officials, including ex-Gov. Rick Snyder, were charged Thursday in connection with the Flint water crisis in a case one prosecutor said was about "finally, finally, finally holding people accountable.". Snyder, 62, and eight others who worked under him face a host of charges stemming ...

Who was Flint's former emergency manager?

Another former emergency manager, Gerald Ambrose, charged with multiple counts of misconduct in office. Howard Croft, Flint’s former director of public works, charged with two counts of willful neglect of duty.

Why did the Olympics heat wave hit Tokyo?

Olympics Heat wave hits Tokyo as Olympic organizers battle to keep Covid rates down. The Snyder administration in 2014 switched Flint from Detroit's water system to the Flint River in an effort to cut costs.

What did John Lennon say about the Snyder case?

Lennon called the case against Snyder "flimsy," and said that "this entire situation is puzzling.”. “ It would be a travesty to waste additional taxpayer dollars pursuing these bogus misdemeanor charges," he said in a statement.

How much did Michigan settle with Flint?

Michigan agreed to a $600 million settlement in August in a class-action lawsuit with Flint residents whose health was affected, establishing a fund from which residents can file for compensation.

Who is Nancy Peeler?

Nancy Peeler, once the manager for early childhood section within Michigan’s Department of Health and Human Services , charged with two counts of misconduct in office and one for willful neglect of duty. "The accusations in the indictment are untrue, and the charges are unwarranted," Ambrose's lawyer William Swor said.

Who was charged with involuntary manslaughter in Michigan?

The other state officials charged were: Former Michigan Chief Medical Executive Dr. Eden Wells, also charged with nine counts of involuntary manslaughter, along with two counts of misconduct in office and one for willful neglect of duty.

What Went Wrong

The false pretenses and conspiracy to commit false pretense charges against Earley and Ambrose are based on the Defendants gaining authorization to borrow millions using the alleged reason of an environmental calamity.

Defendants and Charges

Darnell Earley: Earley, of Lansing, was appointed as Flint’s Emergency Manager by Gov. Rick Snyder, serving from September 2013 until January 2015. He is charged with the following:

13 Defendants in Flint Water Case Thus Far

As of today, in total, Schuette has filed 43 criminal charges against 13 current and former state and local officials since the start of the Flint Water Investigation, which has included interviews with approximately 200 witnesses.

How many people were charged in the Flint water crisis?

Here are nine officials charged in Flint water crisis. A total of nine people — many of whom are connected to the state's 2014-15 response to a Legionnaires' disease outbreak — were charged Thursday by Attorney General Dana Nessel's office in relation to the Flint water crisis. For three former state of Michigan officials, the charges are new.

Why did Snyder get charged?

Solicitor General Fadwa Hammoud said Snyder's charges are a result of his willful neglect of "his mandatory legal duties under the Michigan Constitution and the Emergency Management Act, thereby failing to protect the health and safety of Flint's residents.".

What is the maximum penalty for perjury?

Charges: Perjury during an investigative subpoena investigation. Max penalty: Up to 15 years in prison. Jarrod Agen was Snyder's director of communications during the Flint water crisis and became chief of staff in January 2016 when his predecessor, Dennis Muchmore, left the administration.

Who was the closest adviser to Snyder?

Baird, one of Snyder's closest advisers who was also in charge of Flint's recovery effort, is a Chicago resident who retired from PricewaterhouseCoopers in 2010 after nearly 30 years with the company before he was recruited by Snyder in 2011.

Did Wells have a duty to press for a public warning?

Specifically, prosecutors argued Wells had a duty and obligation on behalf of Flint residents to press for a public warning on the outbreak of a form of pneumonia. The charges were eventually dropped by Nessel's office, but some were resurrected Thursday.

Where does Flint get its water from?

In the meantime, the city of Flint would be receiving drinking water from the Flint River. In the weeks following this switch to the Flint River as the potable water source, some residents began buying bottled water as they complained of poor tasting and smelling city water.

When did Snyder release the emails?

First set of emails released by Governor Snyder on January 20, 2016, dating back to 2014-2015. Second set of emails and corresponding documents made available from state departments regarding the Flint water crisis.

Overview

Civil lawsuits

As of February 21, 2019, a total of 79 civil lawsuits have been filed in regards to the crisis.
On November 13, 2015, four families filed a federal class-action lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan in Detroit against Governor Snyder and thirteen other city and state officials, including Mayor Walling and Darnell Earley, who was in charge of the city when the switch to the Flint River was made. The complaint alleges that the officials acted recklessly and ne…

Timeline

The following is a sequence of events related to the Flint water crisis.
• 1967–2013 – The city of Flint receives its water from the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department, sourced from Lake Huron. The city operates under a plan to use the Flint River as an emergency water source.
• November 29, 2011 – Three weeks after the city declared a state of financial emergency, Governor Snyder …

Background

Some water service lines in Flint were installed between 1901 and 1920. As with many other municipalities at the time, all of the service lines from the cast iron water mainsto end users' homes were constructed of lead, because it was relatively inexpensive and easy to work. Lead from the pipes can leach into the water, especially if certain contaminants are present. However, the water from the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department, where Flint had obtained its water s…

Financial emergency

From 2011 to 2015, Governor Snyder appointed four emergency managers to control Flint's finances. After 2015, the city continued to receive financial guidance under the lesser oversight of a Receivership Transition Advisory Board.

Transition to a new water source

In 2011, Genesee County initiated the switch to the Karegnondi Water Authority (KWA); the KWA would supply water to both Genesee County and Flint. On March 25, 2013, the purchase of 16 million US gallons (61,000 m ) per day from the KWA was approved by the Flint City Council. The KWA informed the council that they could dig to Lake Huron (the new water supply) in 30 months using a bored tunnel. Ed Kurtz, Flint's emergency manager, along with Mayor Dayne Walling and …

Early water contamination

After the permanent switch to the Flint River, city residents began complaining about the color, taste, and odor of their water. In August and September 2014, city officials detected levels of coliform bacteria, so residents were advised to boil their water. MDEQ determined that cold weather, aging pipes, and a population decline were the cause of these bacteria. According to Stephen Bu…

Lead exposure findings

In January 2015, a public meeting was held, where citizens complained about the "bad water." Residents complained about the taste, smell, and appearance of the water for 18 months before a Flint physician found elevated blood lead levelsin the children of Flint. During that time period, MDEQ had insisted the water was safe to drink. A study by Virginia Tech researchers (see section below) determined that the river water, which, due to higher chloride concentration, is more corr…