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| Michigan Attorney General Sues 2 Companies Over Flint Water Crisis | Michigan Attorney General Sues 2 Companies Over Flint Water Crisis |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| CHICAGO — Michigan’s attorney general sued two companies on Wednesday that he said imperiled public health in Flint and contributed to the city’s crisis of lead-tainted drinking water. | |
| The companies, Veolia North America and Lockwood, Andrews & Newnam, were hired to advise the city about using the Flint River as its drinking water source. The companies did not sound alarms about lead contamination and were complicit in the series of events that caused lead to leach from pipes and poison children, said Bill Schuette, the attorney general. | The companies, Veolia North America and Lockwood, Andrews & Newnam, were hired to advise the city about using the Flint River as its drinking water source. The companies did not sound alarms about lead contamination and were complicit in the series of events that caused lead to leach from pipes and poison children, said Bill Schuette, the attorney general. |
| “They failed miserably in their job,” Mr. Schuette said at a news conference in Flint. “Basically botched it — didn’t stop the water in Flint from being poisoned. They made it worse. That’s what they did.” | “They failed miserably in their job,” Mr. Schuette said at a news conference in Flint. “Basically botched it — didn’t stop the water in Flint from being poisoned. They made it worse. That’s what they did.” |
| The two companies swiftly denied the attorney general’s characterization of events. | The two companies swiftly denied the attorney general’s characterization of events. |
| Paul Whitmore, a spokesman for Veolia, said that the company was “disappointed” with the lawsuit and that it would “vigorously defend itself against these unwarranted allegations of wrongdoing.” Mr. Whitmore noted that a task force appointed by Gov. Rick Snyder largely faulted the state government for Flint’s water problems. | Paul Whitmore, a spokesman for Veolia, said that the company was “disappointed” with the lawsuit and that it would “vigorously defend itself against these unwarranted allegations of wrongdoing.” Mr. Whitmore noted that a task force appointed by Gov. Rick Snyder largely faulted the state government for Flint’s water problems. |
| A statement from Lockwood, Andrews & Newnam said Mr. Schuette “blatantly mischaracterized the role of LAN’s service to Flint.” The lawsuit also named its parent company, Leo A. Daly Company, as a defendant. | A statement from Lockwood, Andrews & Newnam said Mr. Schuette “blatantly mischaracterized the role of LAN’s service to Flint.” The lawsuit also named its parent company, Leo A. Daly Company, as a defendant. |
| The attorney general’s lawsuit, filed in Circuit Court in Genesee County, was the latest fallout from Flint’s water crisis, in which a sequence of failures by government and businesses left the entire city fearful to drink from the tap and led to a series of investigations and political controversies. | The attorney general’s lawsuit, filed in Circuit Court in Genesee County, was the latest fallout from Flint’s water crisis, in which a sequence of failures by government and businesses left the entire city fearful to drink from the tap and led to a series of investigations and political controversies. |
| In April, Mr. Schuette filed criminal charges against two state environmental regulators and one city employee who he said tampered with evidence and distorted water testing results. Governor Snyder has faced intense criticism for his handling of the crisis, and has promised millions of dollars in aid for the city. | In April, Mr. Schuette filed criminal charges against two state environmental regulators and one city employee who he said tampered with evidence and distorted water testing results. Governor Snyder has faced intense criticism for his handling of the crisis, and has promised millions of dollars in aid for the city. |
| As criminal investigations continue, with more charges expected soon, Mr. Schuette said he hoped the lawsuit could lead to “hundreds of millions” of dollars in damages to help repair Flint’s rotting infrastructure and provide support to affected residents. The companies have already been sued by residents. | As criminal investigations continue, with more charges expected soon, Mr. Schuette said he hoped the lawsuit could lead to “hundreds of millions” of dollars in damages to help repair Flint’s rotting infrastructure and provide support to affected residents. The companies have already been sued by residents. |
| Mr. Schuette was especially critical of Veolia, which consulted with the city after it switched its water source to the Flint River, resulting in contaminants’ turning up in drinking water. He accused the company of “callously and fraudulently” dismissing medical concerns and saying the water was safe. | Mr. Schuette was especially critical of Veolia, which consulted with the city after it switched its water source to the Flint River, resulting in contaminants’ turning up in drinking water. He accused the company of “callously and fraudulently” dismissing medical concerns and saying the water was safe. |
| “Can you believe that?” Mr. Schuette said. “Tell that to a pregnant woman, carrying her unborn child, whose bones, brains, kidneys can be severely damaged because of lead poisoning.” | “Can you believe that?” Mr. Schuette said. “Tell that to a pregnant woman, carrying her unborn child, whose bones, brains, kidneys can be severely damaged because of lead poisoning.” |
| Melissa Mays, a Flint resident and activist, said that she and other activists had been focused on the companies since the beginning of the water crisis. | Melissa Mays, a Flint resident and activist, said that she and other activists had been focused on the companies since the beginning of the water crisis. |
| In early 2015, she recalled, a representative from Veolia appeared at a City Council meeting to report on the results of a water evaluation the company performed. For nearly a year, residents had been complaining that their water was foul and discolored, and blamed Veolia for its role. | In early 2015, she recalled, a representative from Veolia appeared at a City Council meeting to report on the results of a water evaluation the company performed. For nearly a year, residents had been complaining that their water was foul and discolored, and blamed Veolia for its role. |
| “Veolia stood up and said that everything was fine,” she said. “City Council members were yelling at them, residents were yelling at them. It was bad. No one believed them at all. When your hair’s falling out and you have rashes and you’ve been yelling at the city for 10 months, you’re not going to believe this company.” | “Veolia stood up and said that everything was fine,” she said. “City Council members were yelling at them, residents were yelling at them. It was bad. No one believed them at all. When your hair’s falling out and you have rashes and you’ve been yelling at the city for 10 months, you’re not going to believe this company.” |
| Though lead levels have been dropping, officials continue to recommend filtered or bottled water for drinking and the public remains leery about the safety of the water supply. The city has started to replace the old pipes that leached lead, but is running short of funding. | Though lead levels have been dropping, officials continue to recommend filtered or bottled water for drinking and the public remains leery about the safety of the water supply. The city has started to replace the old pipes that leached lead, but is running short of funding. |