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(MLive file photo)
FLINT, MI -- A federal court judge has dismissed two lawsuits tied to Flint water contamination, saying the complaints against Gov. Rick Snyder and others are precluded under the Safe Drinking Water Act.
U.S. District Judge John C. O'Meara issued orders Tuesday, Feb. 7, dismissing cases filed by Flint residents Luke Waid, Myia McMillian and others against Snyder, the state of Michigan, city of Flint and other government agencies and officials.
O'Meara also dismissed a class-action water crisis lawsuit filed by Flint residents, including activist Melissa Mays, last week, saying that complaint would bypass the Safe Drinking Water Act's procedures.
Attorneys for Mays and those plaintiffs filed a notice of appeal of O'Meara's decision in their case on Monday, Feb. 6.
In brief written opinions in the McMillian and Waid cases, O'Meara wrote that reasons for dismissing each was "virtually identical ... lack of subject matter jurisdiction."
Both opinions say the lawsuits are barred because residents failed to provide required notice under the SDWA.