A new Flint water crisis lawsuit was brought against the state over the residents' fear of getting cancer in the near future. The plaintiffs alleged that they worry about their health because of their lead exposure.
As per the Flint water crisis lawsuit, the plaintiffs claimed that there is a reasonable certainty that cancers will develop in the near future. At present, they have not been identified with cancer. The plaintiffs are asking for compensation since they have been exposed to lead that may cause cancer. The plaintiffs are suing the state and the state officials for their negligence over the matter. It comes as one of the most recent lawsuits filed against the state over the Flint water crisis, USA Today reports.
"Plaintiffs ... have a justifiable and actual fear of developing cancer," states the lawsuit filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court.
A previously reported by Lawyer Herald, The Flint water crisis lawsuit named seven families as the plaintiffs. They argued that Governor Rick Snyder and other Michigan officials violated the Safe Drinking Water Act when they didn't inform the residents the danger of the toxic water. The seven families also said that the Snyder's government failed to notify them of the water sample's laboratory results within 30 days.
"Lead poisoning is an insidious disease process. You don't look at a child and say, that child is lead poisoned. The situation is "a catastrophe," said Hunter Shkolnik, one of the lawyers representing the families said. "These children are brain damaged. It's just a matter of time before you see how it manifests itself for that child. A lot of people are quick to say the children look fine. Looks are deceiving."
According to CNN, lead exposure to children could lead to behavioral disorders, impaired cognition, hearing problems and delayed puberty. It also generally affects the heart, nerves and the kidneys. Lead is also dangerous for the pregnant women as they have the tendency to have lessened fetal growth. There's no solution yet known to treat the ill effect of lead exposure. However, there are drugs that can lessen the amount of lead in the blood.
The Flint water crisis lawsuit is not yet regarded as a class-action. Once it would be approved by the federal judge, all residents living in Flint since April 25, 2014 could join as a plaintiff. The plaintiffs are asking compensation for their medical bills and upcoming medical check-up's.
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