News, Culture and NPR for Central & Northern Michigan
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
91.7FM Alpena and WCML-TV Channel 6 Alpena have been restored. Click here to learn more.

Judge decides health official to face trial over Legionnaires outbreak

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

A judge decided Friday that another top state health official should face trial in connection with the Flint water crisis.

Dr. Eden Wells is facing involuntary manslaughter and other charges in connection to her work as Michigan’s Chief Medical Executive.  

The charges are linked to a deadly Legionnaires Disease outbreak that occurred in Genesee County during Flint’s drinking water switch in 2014 and 2015.

Prosecutors say Wells should have done more to alert the public of the outbreak.

Steven Tramontin is Wells’ defense attorney.

“This is just round one.  Dr. Wells is innocent of these charges.  We intend to continue to fight them.”

Judge William Crawford acknowledged in his decision that there is conflicting evidence in the case, but he says the final decision should be made by a jury.

State Health Department director Nick Lyon is also facing trial for his handling of the Legionnaires outbreak.