Atlanta Taxpayers on the Hook for $125K Resulting from Broken Water Meter

ATLANTA, Ga. - A sidewalk accident is going to cost city of Atlanta residents $125,000. That is the settlement worked out by lawyers for a man whose leg was swallowed up by a water meter left without a lid.

It had been uncovered for a period of time that leaves had collected over it, making it impossible for the citizen to see the hole. For the city, the legal case was made worse because water management had been told the meter box required attention.

The normal turnaround time in such cases is up to 30 days. One councilman, Michael Bond, believes that time should be cut in half if not more.