$1.4M Garden City, Georgia Fire Fee Settlement, Are You Eligible for a Refund?

Garden City, Georgia agreed to pay $1.4 million to settle a class action lawsuit alleging its fire protection service fee was actually an illegal tax under Georgia law. If you paid fire fees to the Garden City Fire Protection Utility between October 7, 2020, and the date of final court approval, you may qualify for a cash refund of approximately 27% of what you paid. No documentation is required to file.

Quick Facts

Field	Detail
Settlement Amount	$1,400,000
Claim Deadline	TBD — before June 5, 2026 Final Approval Hearing
Who Qualifies	Garden City Fire Protection Utility customers who paid fire fees from Oct. 7, 2020 onward
Payout Per Person	Approximately 27% of total fire fees paid (pro rata)
Proof Required	No
Settlement Status	Preliminarily Approved
Administrator	Terry D. Turner Jr., Esquire — (800) 345-0837
Official Website	gardencityfirefeessettlement.com

What’s Happening Right Now

• The settlement has received preliminary court approval. The final approval hearing is set for June 5, 2026 in Chatham County Superior Court.
• Former customers must submit a claim form by mail as soon as possible — current customers receive refunds automatically with no action required.
• The settlement administrator will mail checks after the court grants final approval and resolves any appeals.

Why Did the City Get Sued Over a Fire Fee?

Starting in 2010, Garden City billed residents and businesses a flat fire protection service fee through its Fire Protection Utility. The city described it as a user fee — similar to water or sewer charges. A class action lawsuit filed in Chatham County Superior Court (Bobby Black v. Garden City, Georgia, Case No. SPCV-25-01358-ST) challenged that description directly.

The lawsuit alleged the flat fee actually functioned as an illegal non-ad valorem tax on real property. Under Georgia law, property taxes must be based on property value — not charged as a flat amount. Because Garden City’s fire fee applied equally regardless of property value, plaintiffs argued it violated both the Georgia Constitution and state law.

Rather than take the case to trial, Garden City officials opted to settle. City leaders cited the cost, uncertainty, and risk of prolonged litigation as reasons for reaching an agreement. As part of the settlement, Garden City also agreed to stop billing or collecting the Fire Protection Fee entirely after December 31, 2025, effectively ending a program that had been in place since 2010.

Related article: LINQ Data Breach Settlement, Are You Eligible to Claim Up to $3,000 Before June 29?

Who Is Eligible to File a Claim?

• You may qualify if you are a current or former customer of the Garden City Fire Protection Utility.
• You may qualify if you paid fire fees to the utility at any time between October 7, 2020, and the date the court grants final approval of the settlement.
• You may qualify if you did not receive a notice but believe you paid fire fees during the class period — a separate claim form for missing class members is available on the settlement website.
• You may not qualify if you never paid a Garden City fire fee or your payments fell entirely outside the October 7, 2020 class period start date.

Important: The settlement administrator will use city utility records to identify eligible class members. After final court approval, the administrator will publish a full list of class members and their calculated refund amounts on the official settlement website and on Garden City’s website.

How Much Money Can You Receive?

The $1,400,000 settlement fund covers all refunds, legal costs, and administrative expenses. Here’s how the fund breaks down:

• Attorneys’ fees: Up to $560,000
• Service award to class representative: Up to $35,000
• Attorneys’ expenses: TBD
• Payments to eligible class members: Remainder of the fund

After deducting fees and expenses, the settlement administrator will distribute funds pro rata — meaning your share depends on how much you personally paid in fire fees compared to what all class members paid in total. The administrator estimates each eligible person will receive approximately 27% of the fire fees they paid during the class period.

Your actual refund percentage may vary slightly depending on how many class members participate and the final amount of fees and expenses approved by the court.

How to Get Your Refund

If you are a current Garden City Fire Protection Utility customer:

You do not need to do anything. The settlement administrator will mail your refund check to the address on file after the court grants final approval.

If you are a former customer:

Step 1 — Visit gardencityfirefeessettlement.com and download the PDF claim form, or wait for a form to arrive at your last known address.

Step 2 — Fill out the form with your name, contact information, and address where you received fire protection utility service.

Step 3 — Leave the documentation section blank — no receipts or proof of payment are required.

Step 4 — Mail your completed form to the settlement administrator: Terry D. Turner Jr., Esquire 501 Riverchase Parkway East, Suite 100 Hoover, AL 35244

Step 5 — Keep a copy of your completed form for your records.

Step 6 — Note the mailing date — submit as soon as possible ahead of the June 5, 2026 final approval hearing.

Estimated time to complete: 5 minutes.

Key Dates to Know

Milestone	Date
Class Period Start	October 7, 2020
Class Period End	Date of Final Court Approval
Settlement Status	Preliminarily Approved
Opt-Out Deadline	TBD
Objection Deadline	TBD
Final Approval Hearing	June 5, 2026
Claim Filing Deadline	TBD — submit as soon as possible
Expected Payment Date	After Final Approval and Resolution of Any Appeals

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a lawyer to file a claim in the Garden City fire fee settlement? 

No. You file directly without an attorney. Class counsel already negotiated the settlement terms for all class members. Download the claim form, complete it, and mail it to the administrator. The entire process takes about five minutes.

Is the Garden City fire fee settlement legitimate? 

Yes. The settlement is a real court agreement filed in Chatham County Superior Court under Case No. SPCV-25-01358-ST. Garden City’s own City Council approved the resolution in December 2025. The official settlement website is gardencityfirefeessettlement.com.

When will I receive my payment? 

The court holds the final approval hearing on June 5, 2026. The settlement administrator will mail checks after the court grants final approval and resolves any appeals. Current customers who take no action will receive automatic payments to their address on file.

What if I missed the claim deadline?

 Current customers receive automatic refunds with no deadline to worry about. Former customers who miss the claim deadline will likely not receive a payment — courts rarely reopen claim periods. Submit your form as soon as possible to protect your claim.

Will this settlement payment affect my taxes? 

Refunds of overcharged fees are generally treated as a return of money you were wrongfully charged, not as taxable income. However, your individual tax situation may differ. Talk to a qualified tax professional before reporting this on your federal or state return.

Do I need to submit proof that I paid the fire fee? 

No. The settlement administrator uses Garden City’s own utility records to verify payments and calculate refund amounts. You do not need to attach receipts, bills, or any other documentation to your claim form.

What if I never received a notice in the mail? 

You can still file. The settlement website offers a separate claim form for missing class members. Download it, complete it, and mail it to the administrator for review. Do not wait for a notice to arrive before acting.

Does this settlement affect future fire protection services in Garden City?

 Yes. Garden City permanently stopped billing the Fire Protection Fee after December 31, 2025 as part of the settlement. The program, which ran since 2010, no longer exists. Residents will not receive fire fee bills going forward.

Sources & References

1. Official Settlement Website: gardencityfirefeessettlement.com
2. Court Case: Bobby Black v. Garden City, Georgia, Case No. SPCV-25-01358-ST, Chatham County Superior Court

If you paid utility fees to a local government entity and want to know whether you have a claim, our guide on Georgia class action settlement eligibility covers how Georgia residents can verify and file for open settlements. You can also browse our full list of open class action settlements you can claim in 2026 to check for other payouts you may qualify for.

Last Updated: April 8, 2026

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Legal claims and outcomes depend on specific facts and applicable law. For advice regarding a particular situation, consult a qualified attorney.