The city of Flint, Michigan has filed an intent to sue letter with the state, claiming that the city lacks funds to defend itself against lawsuit filed during the water crisis [CNN timeline]. The city’s new chief legal officer, Stacy Erwin Oakes, stated [CNN report] that the city filed the notice over damages to the municipal water system and associated costs. Although some state lawmakers immediately criticized the move as potentially hindering the state’s ability to aid the city in repairs, Flint Mayor Karen Weaver [official profile] stated that the notice was sent purely due to a legal requirement. She said that the city would have lost their right to sue in the future if it had not filed the “Notice of Intention to File a Claim” by the March 25th deadline. She noted that they city does not have any intention of filing a lawsuit now, but had to keep the right to sue open for the city if issues arise in the future.

Public officials have come under fire [Atlantic report] for their response to the crisis, as it took 20 months after the initial switch in water supply for an emergency to be declared by the state. Last week a Michigan firm filed a class action lawsuit [JURIST report] on behalf of the children of Flint. Earlier this month seven families living in Flint, Michigan, filed a class action lawsuit [complaint, PDF] against Governor Rick Snyder alleging gross negligence [JURIST report] in connection to the lead-contaminated water. This same month a group of UN human rights experts called on [JURIST report] the US to increase its efforts to address the issue of lead-contaminated water in Flint, Michigan. In January the Natural Resources Defense Council filed a lawsuit [JURIST report] in the US District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, seeking the replacement of lead water pipes in the city of Flint. The lawsuit, filed in conjunction with Concerned Pastors for Social Action, the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan and Flint resident Melissa Mays, seeks to force city and state officials to mediate alleged violations of the federal Safe Drinking Water Act. Also in January Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette appointed a former prosecutor [JURIST report] to act as Special Counsel in his investigation into the water contamination crisis in the city of Flint, and a retired Detroit FBI chief will also participate in the investigation.