Detroit teacher files $10 million suit over alleged lead, copper exposure in school

DETROIT – A former Detroit teacher's lawsuit claims concerns she raised about dangerous lead and copper levels in the drinking water at John R.King Academic and Performing Arts Academy were ignored and retaliation from the district cost her a job. 

Katrina Brown's lawsuit filed Thursday claims she was driven out of a teaching job within the Detroit Public Schools Community District after she fought for clean drinking water at the school. 

J.R. King Academy is one of at least 50 Detroit schools which were shut down in January 2016 when teachers staged a sickout over "deplorable conditions" at the buildings. The EPA standard for lead in water is 15 parts per billion. When first tested, water at some of the Detroit schools showed lead levels between 16 and 27 parts per billion. Two water fountains and a prep sink were tested in each school. Because of the results 19 schools turned off water fountains and bottled water was distributed. J.R. King Academy was one of those schools. 

In February, lead and copper levels in drinking water at all 94 of the DPSCD buildings were declared below the Environmental Protection Agency's guidelines.

However, in June the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA) ruled J.R. King Academy did not provide teachers with potable water for hand washing, eating and cooking during two days in May when classes were still in session. The school district was fined $4,000 and ordered to provide clean water over the following three weeks. 

READ BACK: Lead, copper levels in water at Detroit public school buildings fall below EPA guidelines

Brown claims she developed rashes and saw a number of children become sick due to toxic drinking water at the building. Her suit claims there was retaliation from district leaders when she raised concerns.

View the full lawsuit here.

"Because of her role in complaining about health conditions ... (she) became the target of harassment and other adverse actions at the hands of DPS supervisors."

The suit claims she ultimately was forced out of a job. 

"Because of the stress and harassment, Brown took a medical leave beginning in October 2016," the lawsuit read. "To this day, because of the defendants’ actions, an untold number of children within DPSCD continue to be exposed to dangerous levels of chemicals in their drinking water."

The lawsuit names DPSCD, Mayor Mike Duggan, Judge Steven Rhodes, Felicia Venable-Akinbode, Mathew Sam, Dr. Sherrell Hobbs, Felicia Cook, Ivan Branson and Georgina Tait as defendants. 

The suit seeks to get the alleged lead and copper out of Detroit schools, replace the old pipes, end an alleged coverup by the school district and Mayor Duggan, end the "witch-hunt" against Brown and get her job back at J.R. King Academy. 

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