Elevator Death Prompts Proposed Tougher Law In Georgia

The death of a teenager in an Atlanta elevator has Georgia state lawmakers pushing a law that will increase the penalty fee on past-due repairs, WRDW reports. The teen, hoping to sign up for a university football scholarship, was taking part in a training session at a facility on Highland Avenue. As he and other students were moving to get out of an elevator, the unit suddenly collapsed, crushing the 18-year-old to death on August 31, 2021. An investigation indicated that the last time the elevator was inspected was in 2019, and the next one, scheduled for August 2020, did not occur, making it more than a year past due.  The elevator owner has since been under state investigation. Fines were issued, and the teen’s family has a lawsuit against the property, the school and the elevator company. The proposed law, HB 994, seeks to increase elevator past-due inspection penalties from US$500 to US$2,500. It also says owners could not operate elevators that are 60 days or more past inspection, with further delays resulting in US$10,000 fines per elevator. Lawmakers behind the proposal expect the law to go before a full vote by the end of February.