After years of blaming Yolanda Jackson’s boyfriend for her death at the Lakewood train station, MARTA is paying her family $5 million to settle claims that its shoddy overpass railing caused her to fall more than 25 feet onto her head.
The 46-year-old’s family is receiving another $600,000 from a MARTA insurer and $400,000 from a Cumming contractor that installed the overpass railing, which collapsed on Feb. 15, 2020. The settlement came on the eve of trial in mid-November, and Jackson’s family officially dismissed their case on Dec. 5.
Gabe Banks and Sam Weaver, attorneys for Jackson’s family, said the settlement speaks for itself with regard to MARTA’s alleged culpability.
“We fought long and hard for over two years to try to bring justice to Ms. Jackson,” Banks said. “I do believe that the family was happy with the settlement and ultimately that they can move on with their lives.”
A MARTA spokesperson said it denies liability and settled to avoid the risk of a larger verdict.
“MARTA’s top priority is and has always been the safety of our customers and employees,” said Stephany Fisher, MARTA’s senior director of communications. “We work diligently to ensure all parts of our system are safe and acknowledge that accidents involving our vehicles, and on our properties can and do happen.”