Flint, Mich. — A former state-appointed emergency manager (click here) facing charges in Flint's lead-contaminated water crisis has waived a key hearing in the case.
Gerald Ambrose appeared Thursday in Genesee County District Court and agreed to let the case proceed to Circuit Court, which would handle a trial. He faces charges including conspiracy and misconduct in office.
The Flint Journal reports that prosecutors and an attorney for Ambrose didn't specify why the hearing was waived, but it could speed to resolution of the case.
In 2014 and 2015, Flint didn't properly treat corrosive water that was pulled from the Flint River. As a result, lead in old pipes contaminated the water. Ambrose was an emergency manager during that period.
More than a dozen people have been charged in the Flint water investigation.
By Tracy Samilton
Legislation (click here) introduced by Sen. Rick Jones (R-Grand Ledge) would move the Court of Claims from Ingham County to the Michigan Court of Appeals.
The Michigan Court of Appeals (click here) says a lawsuit filed by Flint residents against the state of Michigan can proceed in the Court of Claims
The Court of Claims has a six month statute of limitations. The state of Michigan said residents failed to file their claim within six months of Flint's water being switched to Flint River water.
But the Court of Appeals says it would be unreasonable to expect residents to know they were drinking lead contaminated water, especially since the state deliberately concealed the truth for months.
The court says residents filed the claim within six months of the state publicly acknowledging the crisis.
Attorney Michael Pitt says it's a major victory for victims of the water crisis. That's because only in the state Court of Claims can the state itself be sued....(
See link above. Thank you.
A controversial bill that would move a key Michigan court is expected to be signed into law soon by Governor Rick Snyder. The measure would transfer the operations of the state’s Court of Claims to the Michigan Court of Appeals. The court of claims hears legal actions that are filed against the state of Michigan.
Backers of Senate Bill 652 maintain it’s expensive and wrong that only 3% of the state’s population elect the Ingham county judges who preside over Court of Claims cases.
Opponents blast the measure as blatantly political “judge shopping” and say many important considerations were not addressed during its brief journey through the legislature.
Ingham County Circuit Court Judge Bill Collette believes the real reason for the transfer is to remove the power from circuit courts to litigate issues regarding constitutional challenges against the activities of the Snyder administration...
Who has control of the docket? (click here) There are many ways to cheat 'the people.' Controlling the docket is still yet another way.
Judge-shopping (click here) refers to a practice of filing several lawsuits that asserts the same claim. Judge shopping is usually done in a court or a district with multiple judges. It is done with the hope of having one of the lawsuits assigned to a favorable judge. It is also done with intent to nonsuit or voluntarily dismiss the others.
A court faced with judge-shopping has the authority to act to preserve the integrity and control of its docket. Moreover, it is particularly important for a district utilizing a random selection process to jealously guard the integrity of the system from potential abuse which attempts to circumvent the process.[Vaqueria Tres Monjitas, Inc. v. Rivera-Cubano, 341 F. Supp. 2d 69 (D.P.R. 2004)]. Currently, judge-shopping is a practice that has been universally condemned....
The absolute worse thing anyone can do is remain silent when something has gone wrong when it involves the well being of any person. I don't care what context it is placed in, a life is far more important. The individual needs treatment when any adversity is discovered.
The man from Mt. Morris could be alive today. What is worse; facing allogations of possible wrong doing of one kind or another or negligent homicide or involuntary manslaughter. Making a mistake is one thing, allowing it to become a danger to life is quite another.
January 26, 2018
By Ron Fonger
Flint, MI. -- The son of a Mt. Morris area man (click here) who prosecutors say died after he was a victim of Legionnaires' disease says his father had no warning about an outbreak of the disease before he was exposed to Flint water in 2015.
Robert J. Skidmore testified Friday, Jan. 1, that his father, Robert C. Skidmore, was active for almost all of his life -- even though he suffered from heart disease -- until he was hospitalized in Flint during the city's water crisis.
His testimony came during the 13th day of the preliminary examination of Nick Lyon, director of the state Department of Health and Human Services.
Lyon faces charges of involuntary manslaughter and misconduct in office, alleged crimes related to Flint's water crisis generally and Robert C. Skidmore's death in particular....
What is the mayor trying to conceal? What is to be avoided? This is the price an ethical and moral scientist pays for good work. The South Carolina mayor is absolutely wrong. He shows no worry or compassion for the people of Denmark. The mayor should be removed from office!
January 25, 2018
The Virginia Tech researcher (click here) who helped expose problems with rising levels of lead in Flint's drinking water apparently won't be allowed to test community wells in a small South Carolina town.
The State reported Wednesday, Jan. 24, that Marc Edwards, whose research showed how corrosive Flint's water was and the extent of lead contamination here, has been told by the mayor of Denmark, S.C., that he won't be granted permission to test wells that supply water to residents.
Edwards told The State that he wants to check community wells for bacteria and other pollutants after finding lead contamination in some homes, but Mayor Gerald Wright told the publication that town water is already tested and has been found to be safe by the state.
In 2016, Edwards and Hurley Medical Center Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha were named to Time magazine's list of the 100 most influential people in the world based on their Flint water work....
