Southfield-based attorney Geoffrey N. Fieger filed a $100 million lawsuit against the state of Michigan and McClaren Flint Hospital on February 2, 2016, on behalf of four Genesee County residents treated at the hospital, alleging that actions could have been taken to prevent them from contracting Legionnaire’s disease. Geoffrey says that there are about 87 confirmed cases thus far, larger than any outbreak in recent memory. Although the suit is for $100 million, Geoffrey says this is still too low and the number may increase, noting that the value of human life should not be measured in terms of social demographic and income as it far too often appears to be.
The Flint case, Geoffrey explains, is not a class action suit since he would like it to move along quickly, which would mean reaching a resolution faster. This could make a difference in the lives of those grieving the loss of a loved one or suffering from the effects of this terrible disease themselves. Geoffrey alleges that everyone in the power structure at McLaren Hospital knew about the outbreak, but did not say anything. Although the water crisis only recently permeated nationwide headlines, Geoffrey says there is evidence that, as early as 2013, Governor Snyder’s administration knew about the outbreak and still failed to alert the public.
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