New York's Lead Contaminated Tap Water: Litigation,Insurance Coverage,and Risk Management

Since the Flint water crisis almost two years ago, municipalities nationwide, including several towns and school systems within New York State, have discovered unacceptably high levels of lead in their drinking water. Given these discoveries, there is bound to be an increase in lawsuits and claims for insurance coverage–especially because the same public health concerns have already caused lead to be heavily litigated in the context of lead-based paint. This article examines the subject of lead-contaminated tap water and discusses issues pertinent to attorneys who may prosecute or defend a case involving it.