ATLANTA (Atlanta News First/Gray News) — An Atlanta public transit employee received $620,000 in an April paycheck in error, and the money has not been returned.
The employee, who cleaned train stations, was paid $620,000 in overtime in April that they did not earn, the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority, or MARTA, confirmed to Atlanta News First. The error was not flagged until July. Five months later, the money still has not been returned.
MARTA said the overpayment was the result of a clerical error.
A MARTA spokesperson said the agency worked with the employee in an effort to recover the funds and hoped to resolve the matter without legal action. The spokesperson said the employee has not returned the funds, so MARTA has filed a civil suit to recoup the money.
MARTA hopes to reach a resolution quickly, the spokesperson said.
The worker who has not returned the funds and the employee involved in the clerical error are no longer with MARTA, according to the spokesperson.
This is the latest issue involving the transit agency’s handling of money. Last month, MARTA settled with the city of Atlanta for $52 million. The payment followed allegations that the agency mismanaged funds as part of the More MARTA sales tax program, which builds out transit capital projects in the city of Atlanta.
Charles Bridgers, an Atlanta attorney specializing in employment law, said he has never heard of a case involving this much money.
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