Flint residents have filed multiple lawsuits against the people responsible for the water contamination controversy in the area. One wants to change the contaminated water lines for free, another seeks thousands of dollars for those who drank the water, while the third lawsuit was filed in behalf of those who acquired the Legionnaires' disease.
Fox 17 reported that the lawsuits were filed against Michigan Governor Rick Snyder. The lawsuits were also filed against the former mayor and government employees. They were all accused of violating civil rights, destroying property values, and selling contaminated products. There were 1,700 households who have come together to file a class-action case in November.
According to the Chicago Tribune, New York attorney Hunter Shkolnik filed one of the lawsuits Monday on behalf of Sophia Waid, who is a 2-year-old girl affected by the water. The lawyer said, "It's an embarrassment for government officials to take the safety of their citizens so lightly.
Sophia's father, Luke, fears he would lose his daughter, whose blood tests have elevated levels of lead. Luke said his daughter is showing symptoms and seem to be suffering from anxiety. She was tested back in 2015, long before Flint's tap water was identified as the cause. Lead can affect the person's central nervous system, especially those who are younger than 6. This can result to hyperactivity and learning problems.
In Flint, 8,000 children under the age of 6 has been affected by the contaminated water.
Meanwhile, the New York Times reported that Flint isn't the only place where water is contaminated. The changing of pipe lines, the discontinuing of putting chemical to stop corrosion, and the switching of water resource to cut budget are among the major reasons for the contamination.
There are also unsafe and high levels of lead in water in areas such as Durham and Greenville N.C. back in 2006, Columbia, S.C. in 2005, and in Jackson, Mississippi just last July. Residents were only told about the problem six months after the contamination.
