Michigan, Whitmer Sued Over Benton Harbor Lead-Tainted Water(1)

Residents of Benton Harbor, Michigan have filed a proposed class action alleging the state has known for years that the city’s water contains unsafe levels of lead, yet did nothing to notify its residents of the dangers.

The complaint, filed on Wednesday in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan, names Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D), the state’s Department of Environment, Great Lakes & Energy, its Department of Health and Human Services, a handful of agency and city directors and managers, and two private contractors.

The plaintiffs claim the state defendants have had evidence “that the water running ...