Flint Water Criminal Case Dismissed Against Client
On Wednesday, January 8, 2020, Fraser Trebilcock defense attorney Brian P. Morley oversaw the dismissal of a criminal case against his client, Liane Shekter-Smith. Initially charged with a felony and a misdemeanor, Mr. Morley was successful in negotiating a plea deal with prosecutors in 2019 that ultimately resulted in no criminal conviction for Ms. Shekter-Smith.
On Wednesday, January 8, 2020, Fraser Trebilcock defense attorney Brian P. Morley oversaw the dismissal of a criminal case against his client, Liane Shekter-Smith. Initially charged with a felony and a misdemeanor, Mr. Morley was successful in negotiating a plea deal with prosecutors in 2019 that ultimately resulted in no criminal conviction for Ms. Shekter-Smith.
The case involved the 2014 Flint water criminal case, in which the city of Flint, MI was subject to lead and other contaminants in the water when the city switched water sources to the Flint River. After an investigation occurred, Ms. Shekter-Smith in relation to her employment with the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (now known as the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy), was charged with a felony and a misdemeanor. She later entered into a no-contest plea deal to a misdemeanor count of Disturbance of Lawful Meetings on January 7, 2019. That plea was held in abeyance by the Genesee County 67th District Court for a period of one year, and ultimately dismissed yesterday, Wednesday, January 8, 2020, resulting in no criminal conviction for Ms. Shekter-Smith.
Following Wednesday's dismissal, attorney Brian Morley spoke on the water criminal case and his client. "I understand the frustration. I understand what happened here," he said. "But you have to make sure that it's the right people who are punished for it."