FLINT, MI -- A federal judge who last year dismissed Rick Snyder as a defendant in a class action lawsuit filed on behalf of Flint residents and businesses has put the former governor back in the case in a decision issued Monday, April 1.

U.S. District Judge Judith E. Levy’s decision, which addressed claims against multiple defendants -- several of whom are current and former state government employees charged with crimes related to the Flint water crisis -- specifically allowed for a claim against the governor to move forward.

“So when plaintiffs state that by February 2015, the governor was fully aware of a public health threat posed by the water supply in Flint, and that by July 2015, at the very latest, the governor knew that the water supply was contaminated, these conclusions are supported by the well-pleaded factual allegations,” Levy wrote in her 128-page decision.

“It is reasonable to infer that Governor Snyder knew that the residents of Flint faced a substantial risk of serious harm emanating from the water.”

The judge previously dismissed Snyder and the state of Michigan as defendants in August but agreed to reinstate him as a defendant after considering new information filed by attorneys for the Flint residents and businesses.

Michael Pitt, one of those attorneys, said Monday that he’s pleased the governor has been brought back into the case based on the fact that Flint residents had a fundamental right not to be subjected to sub-standard water that harmed their health.

“The fundamental difference between the Aug. 1 opinion and this opinion is Governor Snyder has been brought back into the case,” Pitt said. “She also reaffirmed earlier conclusions that the resident of Flint had their constitutional rights violated ... by public officials (who) can be held accountable (for) their callus indifference” to the people of Flint.

The Michigan Attorney General’s Office did not immediately comment on the decision.