Lawyers for residents of Flint, Michigan, have filed a $220.2 million damages claim alleging negligence on the part of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency contributed to dangerous lead levels in the city’s water supply.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Michael Pitt said his firm Royal Oak, Michigan’s Pitt McGehee Palmer & Rivers, along with others, had filed an administrative complaint on Monday with the EPA alleging injuries to over 500 people. They said they would file a similar complaint next week covering 250 more Flint residents.
Federal law requires that such complaints be filed as precursors to actual lawsuits against government agencies like the EPA.
The complaint comes days after two Michigan state officials and a Flint employee were charged with criminal offenses in the crisis.
Flint was under control of a state-appointed emergency manager in April 2014 when it switched its source of water from Detroit’s municipal system to the Flint River to save money.
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