‘Some crumbs’: Critics urge rejection of $641M Flint deal
By ED WHITE
Associated Press
Posted:
Updated:
Isaac Ritchey
Rev. Alfred Harris speaks as part of a news conference held outside Genesee County Circuit Court Tuesday, July 13, 2021, in Flint, Mich.
Isaac Ritchey
Paulette Williams of Flint holds a sign outside Genesee County Circuit Court Tuesday, July 13, 2021, in Flint, Mich.
Jake May
Claudia Perkins-Milton speaks as 15 Flint residents address U.S. District Judge Judith Levy, stating their objections to the $641-million Flint water crisis settlement at Genesee County Circuit Court, Tuesday, July 13, 2021 in Flint, Mich. A federal judge listened Tuesday to Flint residents who were victims of the city's lead-contaminated water, a step in determining whether she should sign off on a $641 million deal that would settle claims against the state of Michigan.
Isaac Ritchey
Former Flint mayor Karen Weaver speaks as part of a news conference held outside Genesee County Circuit Court Tuesday, July 13, 2021, in Flint, Mich.
Jake May
A Zoom call is televised as more than 20 attorneys listen in to objections from 15 Flint residents to the $641-million Flint water crisis settlement at Genesee County Circuit Court, Tuesday, July 13, 2021 in Flint, Mich. A federal judge listened Tuesday to Flint residents who were victims of the city's lead-contaminated water, a step in determining whether she should sign off on a $641 million deal that would settle claims against the state of Michigan.
Jake May
Former Flint Mayor Karen Weaver speaks as one of 15 Flint residents addressing to U.S. District Judge Judith Levy, stating their objections to the $641-million Flint water crisis settlement at Genesee County Circuit Court, Tuesday, July 13, 2021 in Flint, Mich. A federal judge listened Tuesday to Flint residents who were victims of the city's lead-contaminated water, a step in determining whether she should sign off on a $641 million deal that would settle claims against the state of Michigan.
Jake May
Flint resident Joelena Freeman buries her head in her hands as she listens intently to one of 15 Flint residents speak to U.S. District Judge Judith Levy, stating their objections to the $641-million Flint water crisis settlement at Genesee County Circuit Court, Tuesday, July 13, 2021 in Flint, Mich. A federal judge listened Tuesday to Flint residents who were victims of the city's lead-contaminated water, a step in determining whether she should sign off on a $641 million deal that would settle claims against the state of Michigan.
Jake May
Autrece Battiste speaks as 15 Flint residents address U.S. District Judge Judith Levy, stating their objections to the $641-million Flint water crisis settlement at Genesee County Circuit Court, Tuesday, July 13, 2021 in Flint, Mich. A federal judge listened Tuesday to Flint residents who were victims of the city's lead-contaminated water, a step in determining whether she should sign off on a $641 million deal that would settle claims against the state of Michigan.
Jake May
Chris Del Morone listens to U.S. District Judge Judith Levy as 15 Flint residents address objections to the $641-million Flint water crisis settlement at Genesee County Circuit Court, Tuesday, July 13, 2021 in Flint, Mich. A federal judge listened Tuesday to Flint residents who were victims of the city's lead-contaminated water, a step in determining whether she should sign off on a $641 million deal that would settle claims against the state of Michigan.
Jake May
Audrey Young-Muhammed speaks as 15 Flint residents address U.S. District Judge Judith Levy, stating their objections to the $641-million Flint water crisis settlement at Genesee County Circuit Court, Tuesday, July 13, 2021 in Flint, Mich. A federal judge listened Tuesday to Flint residents who were victims of the city's lead-contaminated water, a step in determining whether she should sign off on a $641 million deal that would settle claims against the state of Michigan.
Jake May
Claire McClinton, right, wears a mask while listening to one of 15 Flint residents speak to U.S. District Judge Judith Levy, stating their objections to the $641-million Flint water crisis settlement at Genesee County Circuit Court, Tuesday, July 13, 2021 in Flint, Mich. A federal judge listened Tuesday to Flint residents who were victims of the city's lead-contaminated water, a step in determining whether she should sign off on a $641 million deal that would settle claims against the state of Michigan.
Jake May
Chris Del Morone holds up a wisdom tooth while stating his objection to the $641-million Flint water crisis settlement as one of 15 Flint residents addressing U.S. District Judge Judith Levy at Genesee County Circuit Court, Tuesday, July 13, 2021 in Flint, Mich. A federal judge listened Tuesday to Flint residents who were victims of the city's lead-contaminated water, a step in determining whether she should sign off on a $641 million deal that would settle claims against the state of Michigan.
Jake May
U.S. District Judge Judith Levy speaks as she address one of 15 Flint residents objecting to the $641-million Flint water crisis settlement at Genesee County Circuit Court, Tuesday, July 13, 2021 in Flint, Mich. Levy, a federal judge listened Tuesday to Flint residents who were victims of the city's lead-contaminated water, a step in determining whether she should sign off on a $641 million deal that would settle claims against the state of Michigan.
Jake May
Connie Edwards, who has lived in Flint for 68 years, stands with a protest sign as she listens on during a news conference protesting the attorney fees of the Flint water settlement outside Genesee County Circuit Court, Tuesday, July 13, 2021 in Flint, Mich. A federal judge listened Tuesday to Flint residents who were victims of the city's lead-contaminated water, a step in determining whether she should sign off on a $641 million deal that would settle claims against the state of Michigan.
Jake May
Flint City Councilman Eric Mays looks back at the clock during one of 15 Flint residents speeches to U.S. District Judge Judith Levy, stating their objections to the $641-million Flint water crisis settlement at Genesee County Circuit Court, Tuesday, July 13, 2021 in Flint, Mich. A federal judge listened Tuesday to Flint residents who were victims of the city's lead-contaminated water, a step in determining whether she should sign off on a $641 million deal that would settle claims against the state of Michigan.
Jake May
Flint City Councilman Eric Mays speaks as 15 Flint residents address U.S. District Judge Judith Levy, stating their objections to the $641-million Flint water crisis settlement at Genesee County Circuit Court, Tuesday, July 13, 2021 in Flint, Mich. A federal judge listened Tuesday to Flint residents who were victims of the city's lead-contaminated water, a step in determining whether she should sign off on a $641 million deal that would settle claims against the state of Michigan.
DETROIT (AP) — A federal judge listened Tuesday to Flint residents who were victims of the city’s lead-contaminated water, a step in determining whether she should sign off on a $641 million deal that would settle claims against the state of Michigan.
More than a dozen people without lawyers signed up to speak, all in opposition. Thousands more are represented by attorneys who negotiated the settlement with Michigan and other parties and urged approval a day earlier.
“This is a little unusual,” said U.S. District Judge Judith Levy, who left her courthouse in Ann Arbor for a courtroom 55 miles (90 kilometers) away in Genesee County. The hearing was livestreamed on YouTube.
The settlement fund includes $600 million from Michigan and $20 million from Flint. Attorneys are seeking $200 million in fees so the amount of money available to Flint residents is far less than $641 million.
“The lawyers are making out like fat rats,” Audrey Young-Muhammed complained to the judge.
Money would be available to every Flint child who was exposed to the water, adults who can show an injury, landlords, business owners and anyone who paid water bills. More than 50,000 people have filed claims in a city with a population of roughly 95,000. Kids are supposed to get 80% of the money.
Attorney General Dana Nessel said in a written statement that the deal provides relief and prevents a “drawn out legal back-and-forth.”
But the Rev. Freelon Threlkeld, addressing the judge, described the settlement as “some crumbs.”
“You may not rescind this settlement, but at the end of the day, you and all the other lawyers are going to pay for what you’ve done to the have-nots,” the Baptist minister said.
In 2014, state-appointed managers running Flint switched to water from the Flint River. But the water wasn’t treated to reduce corrosion, causing lead to be released from inside old pipes. The water was also blamed for a spike in Legionnaires’ disease.
Former Mayor Karen Weaver, who was elected in response to the crisis, said the settlement was inadequate, especially when compared to the number of victims and amount of money — $500 million — set aside in a sexual assault scandal at Michigan State University.
“This is not justice for Flint,” Weaver said. “We ask you today to become the government and the judicial system that we can begin to trust.”
Levy earlier said she can only approve or reject the settlement, not veto specific provisions.
Separately, a state attorney responded to criticism from doctors that some lawyers for Flint residents were using a risky portable device to scan people’s bones for lead. The results can lead to higher compensation for victims.
State regulators inspected the site but do not have authority to declare whether a scanner is “safe or unsafe,” Assistant Attorney General Margaret Bettenhausen told the judge.
“They work to ensure that the bone scans will be conducted in compliance with state laws and regulations, and that’s exactly what happened,” she said.
