After Six Month Trial, Judge Rules Flint Water Crisis Civil Case A Mistrial

Topline

A Michigan judge ruled a mistrial on account of a hung jury in a civil case about the Flint water crisis, in which four children sued two engineering firms for professional negligence, alleging personal and social developmental issues because of exposure to the lead-contaminated water.

Key Facts

After a civil trial that lasted five months, deliberation that lasted three weeks without a unanimous verdict and a change in judges this past Tuesday due to health issues, the current judge, Judge David R. Grand, ruled the Flint water crisis civil case a mistrial.

The plaintiffs had brought the suit against Veolia North America (VNA), the firm that issued a summary judgment on Flint’s water, and Lockwood, Andrews and Newman (LAN), Flint’s water engineer.

The firms argued the water crisis was the responsibility of the government, with LAN saying their scope of work was limited, and VNA proclaiming they “did good work for the people of Flint.”

According to local news outlet MLive, jurors were deadlocked for more than a week and claimed their physical and emotional health would be impacted from continuing.

The plaintiffs can either drop their case or retry the case, according to MLive.

Forbes has reached out to the plaintiff’s attorney, Moshe Maimon, and Judge Grand for comment.

KEY BACKGROUND

The Flint water crisis began in 2014 when the city switched its water supply from Detroit’s to the Flint River. By 2015, researchers found that 40% of residents had lead levels over 5 ppb, indicating a serious problem. Former governor Rick Snyder and seven other officials continue to face criminal charges of perjury, involuntary manslaughter and others for the water crisis and the deaths it caused. The lawsuit dismissed today was brought by four children who claim they suffered social and developmental issues due to their exposure to the lead in the water.

TANGENT

VNA announced yesterday that they ranked number one on the list of America’s “Top 200 Environmental Firms.”

FURTHER READING

Deadlocked jury leads to mistrial in Flint water crisis civil case (MLive)

Jury hung in Flint water crisis civil trial, mistrial declared (The Detroit Free Press)