A lawsuit filed by a Roswell teenager and her family claims a cannon blast at an American Legion parade in Alpharetta dramatically impaired her hearing. They're suing the city of Alpharetta, parade organizers and the cannon maker, Pulaski Battery.
Brittany Giles was just 14-years-old when the incident happened at a Veteran's Day parade in 2007. She says the cannon fired just feet from her as she was preparing to walk the parade route as a member of the Roswell High School marching band.
In a Fulton County courtroom Tuesday, Giles testifed the cannon blast felt like a 50 pound weight on her eardrum and that she felt pain. She also told jurors her doctor said acoustic trauma was to blame and the cannon likely caused the hearing loss.
Giles claimed she's had to wear hearing aids and has been ridiculed by classmates about her near deafness and even had to quit the band.
Alpharetta City Administrator Robert Regus testified no other complaints were received from other parade-goers. Event planner, Kim Dodson, also testifed no complaints were received from spectators.
The trial is expected to last through the end of the week.