Macon man settles lawsuit with Macon Water Authority for $100,000

A Macon man who sued the Macon Water Authority for multiple claims, including an allegation that the utility lied to regulators about the size of a 2012 sewage spill on his property, has agreed to settle the case for $100,000, according to documents obtained by The Telegraph through the Open Records Act.

Roland H. Neel, who owns about 10 acres along a scenic area of the Ocmulgee River near Amerson River Park, also alleged the water authority failed to properly clean up the sewage spill reported to involve 4,860 gallons, according to Bibb County Superior Court records.

Neel further alleged his property -- 1083 S. Pine Knoll Drive -- was damaged when the authority installed a new sewer trunk line in an easement across the land and that the utility caused two other spills in 2010 and 2011 on his property.

The 2010 spill flooded Neel’s front yard with raw sewage and the second, which broke his personal sewage line, caused sewage to overflow in his home’s toilets, bathtubs, showers and washing machine, according to the suit.

Reached for comment about the confidential settlement, water authority Executive Director Tony Rojas said, “The matter has been resolved to the satisfaction of the parties.”

Neel and his lawyers declined comment Thursday.

The water authority didn’t admit liability or wrongdoing, according to the settlement agreement signed Aug. 13.

Neel’s lawyers dismissed the suit Aug. 24. Each side will pay its own attorneys’ fees and other costs associated with the case.

Information from Telegraph archives was used in this report. To contact writer Amy Leigh Womack, call 744-4398 or find her on Twitter@awomackmacon.

This story was originally published September 2, 2015 at 4:39 PM with the headline "Macon man settles lawsuit with Macon Water Authority for $100,000 ."