Even with corrosion control, Edwards said the continued use of lead pipes throughout the country poses a constant public health risk. Photo by Rebecca Cook/REUTERS

Supreme Court leaves in place ruling that revives two Flint lawsuits

Nation

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court is leaving in place a ruling that revived two federal lawsuits stemming from the lead-tainted water crisis in Flint, Michigan.

The Supreme Court declined Monday to get involved in the cases, leaving in place a decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. The appeals court ruled in July 2017 that a federal trial court had improperly dismissed federal civil rights claims in the lawsuits, which were brought by Flint residents. The trial court ruled that a federal law called the Safe Drinking Water Act precluded those claims, but the appeals court disagreed.

The Supreme Court's decision not to get involved means the cases will return to the trial court to move forward. Other similar lawsuits are also at the trial court level.

READ MORE: Study confirms how lead got into Flint's water

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Supreme Court leaves in place ruling that revives two Flint lawsuits first appeared on the PBS News website.

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