Georgia Cities Rally to Shield Themselves After $32 Million Roadside Death Verdict

A concrete planter, a Yale senior, and a deer on a dark Georgia road: the kind of collision that leaves a family shattered and a city government scrambling. Now, as the fallout from Joshua Chang’s fatal crash ricochets through courtrooms and city halls, more than 60 Georgia cities are lining up—not to mourn, but to make sure they’re not next.

🚨 Why It Matters: If Georgia’s Supreme Court sides with cities, residents could lose legal recourse for deadly off-road hazards. If the court sides with victims, taxpayers face the possibility of extremely high costs for removing objects like the planter that killed Chang – with no easy answers for safer roads.

⚖️ The Legal Tug-of-War

Cities claim immunity: Milton and 61 Georgia municipalities argue sovereign immunity should shield them from liability for objects beyond paved lanes. Removing every planter, pole, or tree statewide would be a “Sisyphean task” bankrupting small towns, says the Georgia Municipal Association.

Drivers face deadly risks: Chang’s attorney called the planter a “death trap” – an unmarked hazard inches from travel lanes. Courts agreed, ruling it a “defect” Milton negligently maintained. If immunity expands, similar hazards could remain unchecked statewide.

Sisyphean Task?: A “Sisyphean task” means a job that feels like it will never be finished, no matter how hard you try. It comes from a story in Greek mythology about a man named Sisyphus. He was punished by the gods and had to roll a huge rock up a hill, but every time he got close to the top, the rock would roll back down. He had to start over again and again, forever.

So, when someone says a task is “Sisyphean,” they mean it’s frustrating, takes a lot of effort, and seems impossible to complete.

🛣️ The Safety Trade-Off

Cities: Removing all roadside objects (planters, signs, trees) could cost billions statewide, diverting funds from police or fire services. Several Georgia cities are saying that claims against cities could bankrupt city governments if the ruling in the Chang case stands.

Drivers: Without city liability, hazards lurk with no accountability. Chang’s crash revealed inconsistent city testimony – including a code officer’s taped “oops… how did we never notice this?”

⏳ What’s Next

Georgia’s Supreme Court will decide in October 2025 whether to uphold the verdict. A ruling for Chang forces cities to address roadside dangers but could mean tax increases for residents. A ruling for Milton protects treasuries but leaves drivers vulnerable. Either way, Georgia residents pay: through taxes or through risk.

The Sources: City of Milton public records, Georgia Supreme Court docket, Georgia Municipal Association filings, Georgia Court of Appeals decision, legal filings from Chang family attorneys, official statements from city and county governments, Georgia Power and utility company amicus briefs, oral argument schedules, and public meeting minutes from involved municipalities.