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Resident seeks help after city tree branch crushed her car; committee leans to deny claim
Summary
Precious McIntyre told the committee that a dead tree branch fell on her parked car on July 31, 2025, causing major damage and insurance complications; forestry staff said they had no prior notice and removed the branch after the incident and the city attorney recommended denial, citing lack of notice of decay.
Milwaukee — Precious McIntyre addressed the Judiciary and Legislation Committee on March 13 after a city tree branch fell on her parked car on July 31, 2025, crushing the vehicle’s front end and leaving her without insurance. The city attorney’s office recommended denial of the claim, and forestry staff said they had no prior notice of decay at the point of failure.
“ My car was parked on 19th Street. The tree branch just broke and crushed the entire front end of the car,” McIntyre told the committee. She said she called city services after the incident, was told the tree was dead, filed a claim that was denied as weather-related, and that FEMA told her it was a city-tree issue. She said repair estimates ranged from about $11,983 to $19,994 and that her insurer had dropped her months earlier.
City Attorney staff summarized the investigation: crews responded, removed the branch, and found no external signs of decay at the point of failure at the time of inspection. Forestry staff added that the crew leader identified a dead branch and thinning crown after arriving, and that there had been no prior service requests for inspection or pruning of that tree.
Forestry staff explained pruning cycles: in past staffing levels the city followed a 3- and 6-year pruning cycle based on diameter at breast height (under 12 inches pruned every 3 years; larger trees every 6 years). They said staffing has declined from about 130 arborists to 83, and that scheduling delays and an early snowstorm meant crews had not yet reached that section for a planned 2025 pruning.
The committee heard an objection from Alderman Pratt during the motion to deny, but the motion nonetheless carried and the committee will refer its recommendation of denial to the full Common Council on March 24, 2026. The City Attorney explained that, if the full council adopts the committee’s recommendation, claimants receive formal notice of denial by mail, after which they may pursue circuit-court litigation if they choose.
McIntyre asked how to update her address for formal notice and the city directed her to call the claims department. The committee’s action was procedural; the full Common Council will consider the referral at its next meeting.
