PoliticsMichiganflint water crisisnick lyon

Michigan Health Official To Be Tried For Flint Involuntary Manslaughter

Nick Lyon's neglect was connected to the deaths of two people from Legionnaires' disease during the Flint water crisis in 2015, a judge said.
Open Image Modal
By 

Reporter, HuffPost

|

Nick Lyon, the director of Michigan’s Department of Health and Human Services, will stand trial for two counts of involuntary manslaughter and one count of neglect of duty after two men died of Legionnaires’ disease during the Flint water crisis in 2015. 

“The victims’ deaths, that is Robert Skidmore and John Snyder, their deaths were caused by this neglect of the defendant, in [Nick Lyon’s] failure to act appropriately with regarding to disseminating notices to the public,” District Judge David Goggins said Monday. Lyon said he knew of the cases about one year before the outbreak was publicly disclosed in January 2016. 

“It’s a long way from over,” Lyon, who denies wrongdoing, told The Associated Press.

Flint officials changed the city’s main water supply from the Detroit system to the Flint River in 2014. Not only were dangerously high levels of lead found in the Flint’s water during the 18 months of its use, but studies also showed that low chlorine levels in the city’s water caused the Legionnaires’ disease outbreak, which infected at least 90 people and killed 12. 

Another 14 officials charged in Flint-related cases have either signed plea deals or are awaiting a decision.

“The people of Flint have been traumatized by the actions, or lack of actions, by state officials,” Flint Mayor Karen Weaver said in a statement. “This is a good step on the road to recovery and healing for the people of Flint. I hope that the state continues to be held accountable for the state’s decisions.”

Our 2024 Coverage Needs You

As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.

Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.

to keep our news free for all.

Support HuffPost

Before You Go

Here Are All The People Coming Together To Support Flint
Cher(01 of14)
Open Image Modal
The pop diva led the pack when she sent 181,000 bottles of water to Flint residents. (credit:Lucas Jackson / Reuters)
Pearl Jam(02 of14)
Open Image Modal
Pearl Jam donated $125,000 to the United Way of Genesee County, and persuaded a group of friends and partners, including Ticketmaster, to give an additional $175,000. They also set up a CrowdRise page that has pulled in over $350,000. (credit:Peter Still via Getty Images)
Wisconsin Churches(03 of14)
Open Image Modal
A group of churches in Racine, Milwaukee and Kenosha, Wisconsin came together to collect and donate 72,000 cans of water to Flint. (credit:Raymond Boyd via Getty Images)
Girl Scouts(04 of14)
Open Image Modal
Brownie Girl Scout Troop 71729 sent letters to Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder (R) asking him to take action for Flint residents. "I am so mad," one Girl Scout wrote. "Flint's water is not good for kids to drink and eat. It is lead," wrote another member. (credit:Rick Kern via Getty Images)
Who Is Hussain?(05 of14)
Open Image Modal
The Michigan-based Muslim charity Who Is Hussain? has donated 30,000 bottles of water to Flint. (credit:Who Is Hussain)
Detroit Lions(06 of14)
Open Image Modal
A group of Lions team members, led by defensive end Ezekiel Ansah, donated 94,000 bottles of water to Flint. (credit:Mark Cunningham via Getty Images)
Mark Wahlberg and Sean 'Diddy' Combs(07 of14)
Open Image Modal
Wahlberg and Diddy may seem an unlikely duo, but they are both part-owners of a bottled water company called AQUAhydrate. The two contributed a combined donation of 1 million water bottles. (credit:Noel Vasquez via Getty Images)
AT&T(08 of14)
Open Image Modal
Telecommunications firm AT&T, which is based in Detroit, donated $50,000 to the Community Foundation of Greater Flint for water relief efforts. (credit:Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Jimmy Fallon(09 of14)
Open Image Modal
The TV host donated $10,000 and asked 10 friends to match his donation on Twitter. (credit:Mike Segar / Reuters)
Madonna(10 of14)
Open Image Modal
Madonna was one of the celebrities who responded to Jimmy Fallon's challenge. She announced on Instagram that she will donate $10,000 to Flint residents. (credit:Shannon Stapleton / Reuters)
Anheuser-Busch(11 of14)
Open Image Modal
The beer giant is sending 50,000 cans (of water!) to Flint that are set to arrive in the first week of February. (credit:Doug McKay/HMS Group via Getty Images)
Meek Mill(12 of14)
Open Image Modal
Rapper Meek Mill (Nicki Minaj's boyfriend) sent 60,000 bottles of water and an "undisclosed lump sum of money" to the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan. (credit:Kevork Djansezian / Reuters)
Craigslist Founder Craig Newmark(13 of14)
Open Image Modal
The founder of Craigslist announced a "Water for Flint" challenge on CrowdRise, in which he pledged to send 100 cases of water to the United Way of Southeastern Michigan for every $20 donation his campaign received. (credit:Robert Galbraith / Reuters)
How To Help(14 of14)
Open Image Modal
If you'd like to help the residents of Flint, consider donating to the United Way or the Red Cross. Or you can offer to volunteer for the Flint Water Response Team. Check out more ways to contribute here. (credit:Dennis Pajot via Getty Images)
Suggest a correction
|
Submit a tip