Floods and a Supreme Court ruling define a new week in Georgia
North Georgia towns face record high water levels while state justices consider a $140 million verdict on landlord liability.
By Leila Reynolds ·
The Toccoa River reached a record high in McCaysville, Georgia, causing severe flooding across four counties and killing at least one person. The National Weather Service classified the event as a 1,000-year flood, a statistical term indicating a 0.1% probability of occurrence in any given year. The water levels devastated Fannin, Gilmer, Murray, and Union counties, forcing residents to survey waterlogged businesses and destroyed homes.
The damage is particularly acute in McCaysville because the community was already vulnerable from a previous flood in August. The police chief stated that the department lost everything during that earlier event. The station had only recently reopened after renovations were completed. Now, the town faces another round of recovery efforts with limited resources.
In a separate legal development, the Georgia Supreme Court is reviewing a case that could redefine landlord liability in the state. The dispute traces back to 2017 when a 63-year-old man died in a fire at Venetian Hills Apartments in Atlanta. The unit lacked smoke detectors, fire alarms, and a sprinkler system. A DeKalb County jury ruled in 2023 that the complex was liable for $140 million in damages.
The Georgia Court of Appeals overturned that verdict in 2025. The appellate court ruled that Venetian Hills did not possess the apartment under state law because the victim held the lease. However, one justice noted that the lease allowed management to enter the unit unannounced, which complicates the argument that the company lacked possession. The high court is now considering whether to restore the original jury decision.
Apartment associations in Georgia and Atlanta want the Supreme Court to keep the appellate ruling. Critics argue that the 2025 decision places too much responsibility on tenants for property conditions. The outcome will set a precedent for similar lawsuits across the state. Venetian Hills was previously identified in a 2022 investigation into unsafe apartment complexes that prioritized profit over safety standards.
Political leaders also gathered Sunday at Ebenezer Baptist Church to mark the Democratic midterm victories. U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock and Governor-elect Keisha Lance Bottoms joined the service. Bottoms discussed finding the grave of her great-great-grandmother, Betsy Peek, in Crawfordville, where Peek had been enslaved. Warnock, who serves as the senior pastor at the church, offered a cautionary note for the future.
Warnock described President Donald Trump as a lame duck and an old lion who will feel cornered. He urged the congregation to pray, calling the situation dangerous. The service marked a moment of reflection for Democrats following their statewide wins. The event took place on the eve of the historic election cycle.
In administrative news, a missing memory card containing additional votes from Tuesday’s midterms was found in Seminole County. The discovery occurred during a routine postelection check. Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger is investigating the error. The new votes could reverse a Democratic win in the state House.
Utility companies are preparing for new policy battles now that Democrats hold a majority on the Georgia Public Service Commission. The commission, previously led by Republicans, enacted six rate hikes in recent years. Those increases added approximately $43 to the monthly bills of ratepayers. Future discussions will focus on power bills, clean energy, and data center construction.
