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Milton city attorney forewarns of fallout riding on court case By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com MILTON, Ga. — More than 60 Georgia cities, representing over a quarter of the state population, have joined Milton in its effort to have the Georgia Supreme Court review and overturn a $35 million wrongful death verdict. City officials say the ruling, if left to stand, would have severe consequences for every city in the state. At the Jan. 6 City Council meeting, Milton City Attorney Ken Jarrard said the show of support is unprecedented in his three decades practicing law in the state. The Chang v. City of Milton court case has major implications for local taxpayers. Chang, a senior with a full-ride scholarship to Yale University, died Nov. 18, 2016, after hitting a concrete planter along Batesville Road on his way home during Thanksgiving break. The family sued for wrongful death, and in June 2023, a Fulton County State Court jury awarded damages of $32.5 million. The court found sufficient evidence of negligence and cited inconsistent testimony on the part of the city. Milton lost on appeal when the Georgia Court of Appeals upheld the lower court decision in September 2024. The city has since petitioned the Georgia Supreme Court to overturn the ruling. Milton’s defense rested on sovereign immunity, the state’s constitutional doctrine intended to protect municipalities from lawsuits. The appellate decision, if it stands, will have implications for Georgia residents, especially those living in incorporated cities. Because the planter was on city property in the right-of-way, judges issued an opinion citing Milton’s role in the death of the young man.
Winter weather arrives in Milton Snow blankets Milton’s picturesque downtown Crabapple District early Jan. 10. The winter storm draped some areas of Metro Atlanta and areas north with more than 2.5 inches of snow, the heaviest recorded in more than a decade. Schools, government offices and many businesses closed as icy roads made travel hazardous. See more winter weather coverage at appenmedia.com.
See LAWSUIT, Page 7 PHOTOS BY: HANS APPEN/APPEN MEDIA
Caroline Nalisnick C: 404.513.9226 | Caroline@HOMEgeorgia.com
Sam DiVito C: 404.803.5999 | Sam@HOMEgeorgia.com
Allison Kloster C: 404.784.5287 | Allison@HOMEgeorgia.com