Local Government Law

Another banner year for local governments. A gubernatorial veto preserves, for now, the Georgia Supreme Court’s decision in Lathrop v. Deal that held sovereign immunity bars declaratory and injunctive relief claims against the state, including challenges to constitutionality under the state constitution. In the world of tax, some clarification on appraisal methodologies feature alongside cases notable for their unique procedural postures. A Georgia Supreme Court decision fleshes out what is required for a “meaningful” hearing to be afforded under zoning procedures law. Last year’s developments in the Open Meetings and Open Records Acts continue to bear fruit, and statutory construction comes front and center to this year’s developments in Whistleblower Act case law. Sovereign Immunity Official Immunity Taxation Open Records/Open Meetings Zoning and Land Use Whistleblower