FLINT, MI — A U.S. District Court judge will allow a key witness for the plaintiffs in a civil lawsuit stemming from the Flint water crisis to testify virtually after attorneys in the case said he had concerns regarding COVID-19.
Judge Judith E. Levy on Wednesday, March 30, granted a motion seeking to allow Miguel del Toral, who is considered a key figure and whistleblower in the water crisis, to testify remotely due to his concerns over contracting COVID-19.
The motion was filed by attorneys representing the families of four children who are suing two engineering companies for alleged negligence involving the water crisis.
The lawsuit claims the children suffered injuries caused from their exposure to lead in Flint’s drinking water. Officials with the companies — Veolia North America, LLC; Veolia North America, Inc.; and Veolia Water North America Operating Services, LLC (VNA); as well as Lockwood, Andrews & Newnam, P.C.; and Lockwood Andrews & Newnam, Inc. (LAN) — deny they were negligent and that they are responsible for the plaintiffs’ alleged injuries.
VNA and LAN are not part of the $626.5 million partial settlement in the Flint water case.
The bellwether trial began Feb. 28 and is expected to last about four months, and involve testimony from scores of witnesses. It is called a bellwether trial because it could predict how other plaintiffs might fair if they decide to proceed to trial against these defendants.
Former Flint Mayor Dayne Walling has been on...
; ; ; A foreigner who was granted refugee status in South Korea after claiming persecution in their home country for being a sexual minority now faces the loss of their refugee status as most of t...