After paying a Kennesaw State professor to conduct research on their behalf, a payday lender group sought to prohibit the disclosure of documents related to the study. In a major victory for transparency, the Georgia Supreme Court unanimously rejected their argument on Monday while also issuing an opinion making it easier to sue Georgia Power.
Tenants Suffer Yet Another Loss at the Georgia Court of Appeals
The Georgia Court of Appeals recently ruled that landlords can severely limit legal actions against them by tenants. Even if you’re not a tenant, the decision is important because it’s another example of how consumers are routinely forced to forgo their access to the judicial system in order to participate in everyday transactions. Tenants did, though, score a major victory in the Georgia Legislature.
In an Otherwise Absurd Legislative Session, a Grand Coalition Emerges in Support of Transit
In a legislative session marked by chaotic, partisan showmanship, transit has emerged as a strong bipartisan issue. A grand coalition of urban and rural politicians from both parties have put regional transit funding in Atlanta on the precipice of reality. Enter Cobb County, the obstinate killer of transit momentum.
The Burden on Landlords to Protect Tenants Has Been Diminished
Georgia law has long allowed juries to find a landlord liable if they fail to take necessary steps to keep a tenant safe. It’s a basic legal protection given to tenants, particularly those in higher-crime areas. The Georgia Court of Appeals, though, is okay scrapping the whole jury thing if the judge thinks the tenant should have known not to get harmed. So no more juries, even if the landlord’s botched security job may have contributed to the tenant’s harm.
Weekly Links: The EPA Loves the NHL, Snow Leads to Better Urban Design, and Atlanta’s World-Class Traffic
A weekly roundup of interesting stories from around the country. The National Hockey League is not just one of the biggest buyers of green energy among sports leagues, but among all US companies. Philadelphia created better designed streets simply by looking at where cars drive in the snow. And a stress-relieving simulation of traffic moving through various types of intersections.
Senate Bill Looks to Reduce Voting Time in Atlanta
Updated March 08, 2018. Atlantans, your luxurious 8pm cutoff time to vote on election days is causing havoc across the state. Fortunately, a bill in the Georgia Senate would put an end to that.
Why You May Not Have Noticed Georgia’s Hottest Year on Record
Above-average temperatures often occur when people don’t notice or care, such as at night or in the winter months. Add in the fact that the year ended with colder-than-average weather and it’s easy to overlook the warmth of 2017.
Is the Supreme Court Capable of Valuing the Environment?
We’re still waiting on a decision in the Florida v. Georgia waters wars case and it will finally arrive on Wednesday morning after the Supreme Court added two additional days to issue opinions. Back in January when Florida and Georgia made their arguments to the Court, several justices appeared sympathetic to Florida. Meanwhile, in a brief on the matter, Atlanta asserted that the Supreme Court shouldn’t even attempt to help Florida because the benefits of the environment are often too vague to be valued.