NEW ORLEANS (AP) — More than a dozen Hurricane Katrina victims from Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama filed a lawsuit Thursday accusing the federal government of wrongfully denying them temporary housing assistance. Attorneys said this is probably the first of a string of suits to be filed against the Federal Emergency Management Agency and other government agencies.
"FEMA has fallen so far from the mark of what they were supposed to do. There's no excuse," said Howard Godnick, an attorney for the plaintiffs.
The lawsuit, which asks for class-action status, seeks to make FEMA immediately provide trailers or other housing alternatives, especially to those still in shelters, and asks that victims with larger families receive more money.
FEMA representatives said they had not seen the lawsuit and could not immediately comment.
Those FEMA representatives can "see" the lawsuit right here. Details here from the AP via USA Today. (via JURIST)