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Council denies ante litem claim over flood damage and approves a tweak to fire-fee settlement terms
Summary
Richmond Hill denied an ante litem notice filed by attorney Brandy Mai on behalf of 26 residents seeking more than $5.1 million for stormwater damage; the Council also approved a modification to a previously authorized fire-fee settlement to narrow the automatic refund class.
The Richmond Hill Mayor and Council voted April 7 to deny an ante litem notice submitted by attorney Brandy Mai on behalf of 26 residents (18 households) alleging trespass and nuisance from stormwater drainage failures during August 22–28, 2025. City Attorney Ray Smith presented the ante litem notice, which demanded an aggregate $5,121,422.50 or the full limit of applicable liability insurance. Smith recommended denial and said the notice had been forwarded to Gallagher Bassett (GIRMA) for handling; the Council voted to deny the claim.
Separately, City Attorney Smith and co-counsel Ben Perkins presented a proposed modification to a previously approved settlement in the city’s fire fee litigation. The modification would exclude from the automatic refund class any attorneys and law firms currently representing other Georgia counties or municipalities in similar fee challenges, as well as current members of the City Council and the Mayor. Smith and Perkins characterized the change as minor and legally sound. The Council approved the modification and authorized the City Attorney and co-counsel to execute documents necessary to implement the change.
The transcript records motions to deny the ante litem claim and to approve the settlement modification; both motions carried in the affirmative by all councilmembers present.
