Flint Residents Call $600 Million Settlement ‘Disappointing’

Flint, Michigan residents are finally seeing a glimpse of financial resolution with the water crisis they had to endure but some residents find it ‘disappointing.’

The settlement states that residents, especially the younger ones, will be eligible for payments from a victim compensation fund under a $600-million preliminary settlement coming from the civil lawsuit regarding the contamination of their drinking water with toxic lead.

“While we can never undo the damage that occurred to the citizens and community of Flint, we are pleased that today we were able to secure a measure of justice for the … Flint community,” said Florida attorney Ted Leopold.

According to Detroit News, the proposed settlement includes:

• Flint residents would be eligible for hundreds of millions of dollars in payments from a court-monitored victim compensation fund, with nearly 80% of payments going to those who were under 18 at the time of the crisis, which began in April 2014. Children are particularly vulnerable to the toxic effects of lead, which can impact brain development.
• Attorney fees and costs would be deducted from the $600 million, leaving a lesser amount for distribution. 
• The state would create a dedicated $12-million fund to provide special education and other services for students who suffer long-term health and behavioral impacts from lead poisoning.
• Litigation would continue against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and private firms that were involved in the tragic switch of Flint’s drinking water source from Lake Huron to the Flint River. 
• About 65% of the money would go to Flint residents who were 6 and under when first exposed to lead in Flint water, with 10% going to those who were between the ages of 7 and 11 and 5% to those who were 12 to 17. About 15% would go to adults, 3% for property damage, and 0.5% to cover business losses.
• About $35 million would be placed in trust for “forgotten children” who do not file claims within the required time frame, so they are able to file claims once they become adults.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said a more complete, formal settlement, which requires court approval, is expected within 45 days.

Flint resident Nayyirah Shariff, director of the grassroots group Flint Rising, called the settlement “disappointing,” and “not at all satisfactory.”

Based on her quick calculations, if 100,000 people were impacted, each would receive, on average, only about $6,000.

“I have seizures now, and because I’m an adult, I wouldn’t probably get even $6,000,” Shariff said. “Who knows what my long-term health issues are going to be?”

In reality, the payout could be less than $6,000, considering all the lawyer and court fees.

Flint resident Nakiya Wakes said Thursday she has miscarried twins twice — once in 2015 and once in 2017 — since the drinking water crisis began. Her daughter, now 21 and moved away from Flint, and her son, now 11 and on disability, have suffered also, Wakes said.

She is grateful for any compensation, but “it just seems like we should have gotten more,” and “I still want to see everyone held accountable,” Wakes said. “I have lost four babies due to drinking this water.”

Hopefully this isn’t the end of justice for the people affected. Flint residents and businesses who wish to make claims for personal injuries should visit www.flintwaterjustice.com or call 866-536-0717, according to attorneys involved in the case.