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State stalling compensation suits, says lawyer for Flint water victims

Steve Carmody
/
Michigan Radio
A year after news of the Flint water crisis broke, several lawsuits are still ongoing or pending. “I expected there’d be a more humane approach to resolving the very grievous injuries caused by the state," said Michael Pitt on the delay. ";s:

Amidst the headlines about Attorney General Schuette's criminal investigation and charges filed in the Flint water disaster, there is another legal story unfolding.

Four separate civil lawsuits were filed on behalf of thousands of Flint residents between November of last year and this past April. And, as we mark one year since the breadth and depth of the Flint water crisis became known to the world, we decided to measure the progress of these suits.

This week we spoke to a member of the Flint water class action legal team. Michael Pitt is a co-founding partner of the Royal Oak-based firm, Pitt McGehee Palmer & Rivers and is one of the lawyers working to get Flint residents the compensation they deserve.

But it hasn’t been easy, as the state defendants continue to challenge the legitimacy of these lawsuits. One case alone has generated more the than ten motions to dismiss, Pitt told Stateside. The Flint water class action legal team is "working virtually day and night responding to their efforts to avoid responsibility," he said. 

(Subscribe to the Stateside podcast on iTunes, Google Play, or with this RSS link)

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