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Judiciary committee refers a string of claims and settlements to full council, mostly recommending denials
Summary
On March 13 the Judiciary and Legislation Committee moved multiple claims (including property and personal-injury claims tied to police pursuits) to the full Common Council, generally recommending denial based on late filings or lack of municipal liability; several payment-authorizing items discussed in closed session were recommended for approval and referral.
Milwaukee — The Judiciary and Legislation Committee on March 13 reviewed a series of claims against the city — including property-damage and personal-injury demands tied to police pursuits — and largely recommended denial, referring its decisions to the full Common Council for final action on March 24, 2026.
City Attorney staff presented multiple claims: a fence-damage claim related to a police pursuit at 326 E. Keefe Ave. (item 3251749) and a $350,000 wrongful-death claim on behalf of an estate arising from a pursuit on July 29, 2025 (item 4251291). In several cases the city attorney’s office recommended denial, often citing late notice-of-claim filings or the office’s view that the motorists’ actions — not police conduct — were the proximate cause of the damages.
In the Tremont Manufacturing claim, the city attorney noted the notice was filed more than the statutory 120-day limit; James Lewis, Milwaukee Police Department police risk manager, said, “It was not the police car,” and offered to provide additional facts if the council wanted them. Claimant representative Matthew Marlette said Tremont had internal delays in submitting the claim and asked the committee to reconsider payment.
The committee moved to deny the Tremont claim and referred the recommendation to the full council for March 24. A similar pattern followed for other claims: motions to deny were carried on the floor and committee decisions were sent on to the Common Council with formal notice procedures described by city attorneys.
Several items that were discussed in closed session were placed for open-session action afterward. The city attorney recommended approval for a number of payment-authorizing resolutions on the record after closed session; the committee approved or ordered those items as presented.
The committee recorded multiple procedural holds and withdrawals when claimants or their counsel requested postponement and processed a substantial consent-style list of items with brief motions and roll calls. Committee chairs reminded claimants that after a formal notice of denial they retain the option to file suit in circuit court.
The Common Council is scheduled to consider the committee’s recommendations at its meeting on March 24, 2026.
