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Council adds and approves time‑sensitive resolution to join amicus brief in Chang v. City of Milton
Summary
After amending the agenda, Milledgeville’s City Council approved Resolution R2507‑31 authorizing the city to sign on to an amicus brief in Chang v. City of Milton, a case city counsel said involves questions about municipal immunity and a large jury verdict.
The Milledgeville City Council amended its agenda and approved a time‑sensitive resolution on July 22 to join an amicus brief in Chang v. City of Milton, a case city counsel said could affect municipal immunity nationwide.
Mayor Mary Parham Copeland told the council the resolution had been circulated and needed a quick decision to meet a filing deadline. City attorney Jordan described the underlying case and the legal issue at stake: whether the placement of a masonry planter in a public right‑of‑way is a ministerial act that can give rise to municipal liability. Jordan told the council the litigation against the City of Milton “resulted in a $35,000,000 judgment,” and said an amicus brief would allow interested municipalities to explain how such rulings could affect local government operations.
The council voted by roll call to amend the agenda, then adopted Resolution R2507‑31 authorizing the city to participate in the amicus filing. The mayor noted the resolution was time‑sensitive and needed to be returned by July 24.
Council members asked clarifying questions about how state guidance such as the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) might affect planter placement; counsel responded that MUTCD or similar guidance may not directly resolve the legal question about ministerial versus discretionary acts and that case facts (including how long the planter had been in place) were central to the court’s ruling.
Provenance: issue introduced during the mayor’s opening remarks and explained by counsel, then added to the agenda and adopted by roll call (see segments beginning around SEG 081 and the formal vote in SEG 1044–SEG 1136).
