A federal judge has ruled that Fulton County’s failure to notify its liability carrier about several lawsuits filed largely by county lawyers over pay discrepancies—delays ranging from months to years—means the insurer doesn’t have to pony up about $6.5 million the county wanted to help pay for an $18.3 million settlement. 

On Thursday, U.S. District Judge William Duffey Jr. ruled that National Casualty Co. is off the hook for nearly all of the county’s claims, although he said a jury issue remains for one relatively small grievance action the county settled for more than $450,000.