A federal court held the City of Flint in contempt for violating a February 2023 federal court order requiring the city to reach certain milestones in its lead pipe replacement program.
The City of Flint had originally agreed to replace all its old lead pipes by early 2020, but it still has not completed that work. In addition, there remain almost 2,000 homes where residents have been living with damaged properties—some for years—caused by the lead pipe replacement program.
“The City has failed to abide by the Court’s orders in several respects, and that it has no good reason for its failures,” Judge David M. Lawson wrote for the court. “The City is in civil contempt of the Court’s order.”
Plaintiffs in Concerned Pastors for Social Action v. Khouri filed the motion for contempt last May in the lead-contaminated drinking water case against the City of Flint and Michigan state officials. The court recognized that the City of Flint’s delays in finishing the service line replacement program are continuing to cause difficulties and hardship for Flint residents, some of whom have been waiting for years for the city to fix damaged sidewalks, curbs, and lawns on their properties caused by the lead pipe replacement work.
The plaintiffs did not ask to recoup their attorneys’ fees and costs in connection with bringing this contempt motion. Nonetheless, Judge Lawson found it was appropriate to reimburse plaintiffs for the cost of bringing the City’s violations to the Court’s attention, if they file an appropriate request with the Court.
The following are reactions from Flint resident and advocacy group plaintiffs in the case:
“The court’s decision to hold the City of Flint in contempt reflects the depths of disgust and despair felt by Flint residents. We’ve only gotten this far because residents refuse to stop fighting for Flint,” said Melissa Mays, one of the plaintiffs in the case and Operations…
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