The city of Flint plans to bring a lawsuit against the state of Michigan regarding the water crisis, according to a letter of intention filed with the Michigan Court of Claims.
The state of Michigan and the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality are among those listed as defendants in the documents.
"The City made its decision to switch its water source to the Flint River from April 2014 through October 2015 in reliance on the authorizations, directions, and advice given by the MDEQ. As a direct and proximate result, the City has suffered or will suffer damage to its municipal water distribution system, emergency response costs arising out of the declaration of a state of emergency, attendant ongoing medical claims, lowered property values resulting in lower tax assessments, reputational damage, reduced collection rates for provision of services, permanent loss of customers and associated revenue, and significantly increased civil liability, along with other damages which are or will be the subject of legal and equitable claims against the City and it current and former employees. The City makes this claim to satisfy its statutory notice obligation,” stated the letter from Flint Mayor Dr. Karen W. Weaver.
A statement from Weaver reads:
“As Mayor of Flint, I have every intention of continuing my efforts to work with Governor Rick Snyder and other state officials to seek resolution in all aspects of the Flint water crisis. I have no intention at this point of having the City of Flint sue the state. However, the City of Flint would have forfeited its right to file a lawsuit in the future if I had not filed an official “Notice of Intention to File a Claim” by the March 25 deadline. As the elected leader of Flint, I needed to preserve the city's right to pursue a legal remedy if it is determined a lawsuit is necessary in the future.”
“It is my expectation that we can continue working with the state to help Flint recover from this water crisis. I called Governor Snyder today to re-affirm our commitment to work together for the benefit of the families of Flint.”
Read the full notice of intention below:
