More than 500 Flint, Mich., residents have filed a negligence claim against the Environmental Protection Agency for the lead-contaminated water in their city.

Michael Pitt, an attorney representing 513 Flint water users, brought the claim under the Federal Tort Claims Act. If denied, the complaint would serve as the basis for a lawsuit against the EPA.

Pitt wrote that the EPA was told by researcher Miguel Del Toral that the lead was too high in homes’ drinking water in June 2015 and didn’t notify the public. Doing so could have prevented the crisis, he wrote.

“If the EPA had followed the advice of its own expert, many of the injuries to the people of Flint could have been avoided or minimized, he wrote.

more at Source: Flint residents want $220 million from EPA