Puerto Rico Water Service Crisis Suit Revived by First Circuit

Residents of a Puerto Rican municipality that suffered chronic water shortages regained their right to sue the island’s sewer agency, the town’s mayor and another official for allegedly perpetuating the crisis.

The US Court of Appeals for the First Circuit vacated thedismissal before discovery of the Morovis residents’ case and remanded it to the district court, finding the judge erred by dismissing the substantive due process claim for failing to allege government conduct that “shocks the conscience.”

“In light of the defendants’ knowledge of the water crisis in Morovis and the obvious and severe consequences to the plaintiffs, their failure ...