Settlements costing Atlanta taxpayers millions - Atlanta News, Weather, Traffic, and Sports | FOX 5

The city of Atlanta has written tens of millions of dollars in checks to settle lawsuits.

Critics say taxpayer money is being wasted primarily due to negligence and poor city operations.

On Wednesday, city lawyers said they agreed to a $3 million settlement with blind resident Alex Jenkins, who suffered serious injuries when he slipped and fell on a broken sidewalk. Jenkins had complained about the sidewalk for years.

That was just the latest expensive settlement for the city. In 2008, Atlanta paid $7,813,000 in lawsuits and claims. In 2009, that figure was $3,765,000, while in 2010, $12,320,000 was paid out. In 2011,the city paid $4,381,000. Those figures are for just three large city departments.

The biggest settlement – nearly $5 million – was paid out to the family of Kathryn Johnston. In 2006, Johnson, 92, was killed in an illegal police raid.

Atlanta City Council member Howard Shook said that while he is upset with the large settlements, the city has a duty to make victims whole.

Attorney Roger Orlando from the Orlando Firm, which is not connected with any of the lawsuits, said that a large government like Atlanta is plagued with inadequate resources and inattention to detail.

"We need to do a better job as a city of correcting the disease instead of treating the symptoms and just pay out all this money," said Gates.

A spokesperson to Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed said that the city has issued a new citywide safety policy.