Several Deaths Surround Flint Lawsuit, State Officials Charged With Misconduct


Bell’s untimely demise will do little to ease tensions in the blighted city, with more suspicious residents liable to speculate on the circumstances behind her death. It might even result in individuals involved with any of the other 63 lawsuits concerning the alleged poisoning of Flint children being intimidated into silence:

“The lawsuit named six companies that had various responsibilities with respect to the treatment, monitoring, and safety of the Flint water prior to and during the Flint water crisis, according to her attorneys. The case also named three individual government, or former government, employees who played significant roles in the alleged misconduct that led to the alleged poisoning of thousands of children in Flint, her attorneys claim.

The Bell case, however, played an important role in determining the future of the more than five dozen other lawsuits that were filed.

Initially, Bell’s case and the others were filed in Genesee Circuit Court. However, they were transferred to U.S. District Court on a motion from one of the defendants, engineering company Lockwood, Andrews & Newnam.

However, Ann Arbor U.S. District Judge John Corbett O’Meara ruled April 13 that Bell’s case should return to the state court claiming it lacked jurisdiction to hear the case.”

As for Busch and Prysby, they are looking at some serious consequences if a court determines they acted in the wrong:

“However, official misconduct over Flint may be hard to prove, according to lawyers familiar with Michigan criminal law.

Attorneys for both men could not be reached to comment. A probable cause hearing for both men is scheduled for May 4.

Both men were released on their own personal recognizance, court documents show.

Flint city employee Michael Glasgow, 40, has not been arraigned and an attorney for him is not listed in court documents, Altheide said. He was charged with tampering with evidence by falsifying reports to state environmental officials, and willful neglect of duty.

All three men are on unpaid leave, officials said.

If convicted, Glasgow faces up to five years in prison and $6,000 in fines, while Busch faces up to 15 years and $35,000 in fines, and Prysby faces up to 20 years and $45,000 in fines, according to court documents.”

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Source: Mlive, Reuters



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