Committee recommends denial of homeowner’s forced-entry claim and refers $200,000 pothole injury claim to full council

At a July 28, 2025 meeting, the Milwaukee Common Council Judiciary and Legislation Committee recommended denial of a $22,874 claim filed by Daniel Serrano related to damage to doors at his property at 2254 S. 20th Street, and referred a separate $200,000 claim filed by David Taylor for alleged personal injuries from a pothole to the full Common Council.

Serrano said he returned from a camping trip to find doors damaged and that officers had forced entry after responding to a shot-spotter complaint. "I was surprised how expensive doors are in today's economy. And that's why I'm here because I have 2 broken doors still," Serrano said.

The city attorney's office recommended denial, saying Milwaukee Police Department officers "responded appropriately and acted within the scope of their authority," and James Lewis, police risk manager, told the committee the department's body-worn-camera review and reports matched the attorney’s summary. Lewis also said officers attempted to breach the front door but ultimately entered through the back door and documented damage to both doors.

Chair Deandre Jackson said the committee's recommendation of denial will be forwarded to the full Common Council at its meeting on July 31, 2025. Jackson explained that if the full council adopts the committee's recommendation of denial, Serrano would receive a formal notice of denial from the city clerk's office, which satisfies the statutory prerequisites to file suit in circuit court.

On the pothole claim, Deputy City Attorney Robin Pedersen summarized investigation by the infrastructure services division and the city attorney’s office recommendation of denial. Pedersen said records showed two calls about potholes in the area between May 21 and Aug. 21 and that potholes were patched in a reasonable time. "There's no evidence that the city was negligent in this manner," Pedersen said, and the office advised the claim is better addressed in court given the injury and damages claimed.

The committee moved both items to the full Common Council on July 31, 2025, with the committee recommendation reflected in the referral. Other claims on the agenda—file numbers 230580 (design build claim) and 240384 (Antonio Amos)—were placed on file as not needed; Item 230904 (claim of Catherine Skwoski) and several others were held as first-time appearances.