Legal Question in Civil Litigation in Georgia

Damage and Cover Up

On pubic transportation, a bus driver thought my bike was on the rack incorrectly but it wasn't, and when he couldn't figure any other way to put it on, he got angry and frustrated. Without notifying me, he removed my bike from the bike rack, threw it on the ground, damaged it, and tried to drive off. Only because another passenger noticed was I warned and able to retrieve it. Once I did, the driver drove off quickly. After waiting an hour for them, the public transportation police refused to write a report even after I said I wanted to press charges. This was after they sent the Atlanta police away who I called because it seemed like everyone at MARTA wanted to wait me out.

I called the bar association and they said that they couldn't recommend a lawyer because of the transit system's insurance and that I would need a specialty lawyer to do anything. If I have to, I will look up the code and take this to court myself.


Asked on 12/17/07, 12:38 pm

2 Answers from Attorneys
Charles W. Field Charles W. Field, Attorney at Law

Re: Damage and Cover Up

Go for it! Either get an attorney or take on one of the big Atlanta law firms by yourself.

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Answered on 12/17/07, 5:37 pm
Scott Riddle Law Office of Scott B. Riddle, LLC

Re: Damage and Cover Up

The bottom line is that you likely have a claim for damages to your bike. You left out the value of that claim. Commentary about "cover up" or "waiting you out" rarely mean anything. Small claims/Magistrate court is the proper venue for many such cases, and you don't need a lawyer. You can certainly file a complaint with MARTA about the incident. You fail to state what your goal is beyond the bike damage.

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Answered on 12/17/07, 6:16 pm


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