Committee recommends denial of $7,568 claim after tree branch fell onto vehicle

The Milwaukee Common Council Judiciary and Legislation Committee on May 20, 2025 recommended denying a $7,567.93 claim from Tywan Thompson for property damage after a tree branch fell onto his vehicle during a July storm, the committee was told.

The city attorney’s office recommended denial, saying there was “no notice prior to the, falling of the tree branch onto his vehicle,” and committee members moved to report the denial recommendation to the full Common Council, which will consider it on June 3, 2025.

Urban Forestry District Manager Jeff Closlow told the committee the city experienced a thunderstorm on July 13 that produced about “three quarters of an inch of rain, with sustained winds of 29 miles per hour and 48 mile per hour gusts.” He said forestry received 47 calls for tree damage during that event and that crews found the branch next to the vehicle; the crew leader reported decay at the point of failure and later removed the whole tree. Closlow said the tree “was pruned last in 2016” and that scheduled inspections did not occur before the incident due to scheduling, explaining the five‑year inspection/pruning cycle used by the department.

Thompson told the committee the tree was cut down “right after the incident. Literally, like, 3 days after the incident. It happened July 14.” He said he photographed the damage and that the vehicle was towed after the event. The committee record shows Thompson did not have his attorney present at the hearing.

Alderman Bob Bowman moved the committee recommendation of denial. The committee’s action will be referred to the full Common Council on June 3, 2025; if the council adopts the committee recommendation, Thompson will receive a formal notice of denial and would then have the statutory prerequisites required to file suit in circuit court if he wishes to pursue litigation.

The committee’s decision was based on the city attorney’s determination that the department lacked prior notice of a hazardous tree condition at the site; the city’s forestry manager described the tree’s maintenance history and the department’s inspection and pruning cycle. The denial recommendation does not prevent Thompson from pursuing other remedies after the full council acts.