JUDICIARY & LEGISLATION COMMITTEE

Monday, April 13, 2026 · 9:00 AM AM · Room 301-B, City Hall

TL;DR

The Judiciary & Legislation Committee met on April 13, 2026, to address claims, property damage appeals, tax matters, and legal settlements. The committee recommended approval of two lawsuit settlements and one damage claim payment, while denying or postponing multiple other claims and property damage appeals. Two proposed legal service contracts initially failed but were later reconsidered and approved.

Key Decisions

Real estate tax cancellation for certain parcels Recommended for Adoption
Settlement of 875 East 1, LLC et al. v. City of Milwaukee lawsuit Recommended for Adoption
Settlement of Steven Kaywood v. City of Milwaukee lawsuit Recommended for Adoption
Grzeca Law Group contract for visa services (initially failed, then approved) Recommended for Adoption
Multiple claims and property damage appeals (Rocio Perez Caballero, Donald Arenson, Brittany Hudson, others) Recommended for Disallowance & Indefinite Postponement

Agenda PDF Minutes PDF

Agenda

1. Resolution relating to the claim of Rocio Perez Caballero.
Resolution
Action: RECOMMENDED FOR DISALLOWANCE & INDEF. POSTPONEMENT Passed

A motion was made by ALD. A. PRATT that this Resolution be RECOMMENDED FOR DISALLOWANCE & INDEF. POSTPONEMENT. This motion PREVAILED by the following vote:
2. Resolution relating to the claim of Shelton King, Jr.
Resolution
Action: HELD TO CALL OF THE CHAIR Passed

A motion was made by ALD. WESTMORELAND that this Resolution be HELD TO CALL OF THE CHAIR. This motion PREVAILED by the following vote:
3. Substitute resolution relating to the appeal of James and Iyanura Lindsey for property damage.
Resolution
Action: AMENDED Passed

A motion was made by ALD. BAUMAN that this Resolution be AMENDED. This motion PREVAILED by the following vote:
4. Resolution relating to the claim of Donald Arenson.
Resolution
Action: RECOMMENDED FOR DISALLOWANCE & INDEF. POSTPONEMENT Passed

A motion was made by ALD. BAUMAN that this Resolution be RECOMMENDED FOR DISALLOWANCE & INDEF. POSTPONEMENT. This motion PREVAILED by the following vote:
5. Resolution relating to the appeal of Brittany Hudson for property damage.
Resolution
Action: RECOMMENDED FOR DISALLOWANCE & INDEF. POSTPONEMENT Passed

A motion was made by ALD. WESTMORELAND that this Resolution be RECOMMENDED FOR DISALLOWANCE & INDEF. POSTPONEMENT. This motion PREVAILED by the following vote:
6. Resolution relating to the claim of Denise Waheed.
Resolution
Action: RECOMMENDED FOR DISALLOWANCE & INDEF. POSTPONEMENT Passed

A motion was made by ALD. BAUMAN that this Resolution be RECOMMENDED FOR DISALLOWANCE & INDEF. POSTPONEMENT. This motion PREVAILED by the following vote:
7. Resolution relating to the appeal of Derek Brown for property damage.
Resolution
Action: RECOMMENDED FOR DISALLOWANCE & INDEF. POSTPONEMENT Passed

A motion was made by ALD. A. PRATT that this Resolution be RECOMMENDED FOR DISALLOWANCE & INDEF. POSTPONEMENT. This motion PREVAILED by the following vote:
8. Resolution relating to the claim of Santana Stingley by Atty. Krista LaFave.
Resolution
Action: RECOMMENDED FOR DISALLOWANCE & INDEF. POSTPONEMENT Passed

A motion was made by ALD. BAUMAN that this Resolution be RECOMMENDED FOR DISALLOWANCE & INDEF. POSTPONEMENT. This motion PREVAILED by the following vote:
9. Resolution relating to the claim of Megdalia Szczerbaty.
Resolution
Action: HELD TO CALL OF THE CHAIR Passed

A motion was made by ALD. WESTMORELAND that this Resolution be HELD TO CALL OF THE CHAIR. This motion PREVAILED by the following vote:
10. Resolution relating to the claim of Julian Woodruff.
Resolution
Action: HELD TO CALL OF THE CHAIR Passed

A motion was made by ALD. A. PRATT that this Resolution be HELD TO CALL OF THE CHAIR. This motion PREVAILED by the following vote:
11. Communication from the Equal Rights Commission regarding the 2025 annual report.
Communication
Action: RECOMMENDED FOR PLACING ON FILE Passed

A motion was made by ALD. A. PRATT that this Communication be RECOMMENDED FOR PLACING ON FILE. This motion PREVAILED by the following vote:
12. Substitute resolution directing the Chief Court Administrator to report program metrics to the Common Council.
Resolution
Action: HELD TO CALL OF THE CHAIR Passed

A motion was made by ALD. WESTMORELAND that this Resolution be HELD TO CALL OF THE CHAIR. This motion PREVAILED by the following vote:
13. Resolution cancelling real estate taxes levied against certain parcels bearing tax key numbers on the 2025 tax roll, plus interest applicable to date of repayment, if appropriate.
Resolution
Action: RECOMMENDED FOR ADOPTION Passed

A motion was made by ALD. WESTMORELAND that this Resolution be RECOMMENDED FOR ADOPTION. This motion PREVAILED by the following vote:
14. Communication from the Office of the Assessor relating to 2026 assessments.
Communication
Action: HELD TO CALL OF THE CHAIR Passed

A motion was made by ALD. A. PRATT that this Communication be HELD TO CALL OF THE CHAIR. This motion PREVAILED by the following vote:
15. Resolution relating to a cross-appeal by the Commissioner of Assessments of a determination of the State of Wisconsin Board of Assessors relating to tax key number 355-0431-117.
Resolution
Action: RECOMMENDED FOR ADOPTION Passed

A motion was made by ALD. A. PRATT that this Resolution be RECOMMENDED FOR ADOPTION. This motion PREVAILED by the following vote:
16. Resolution relating to a cross-appeal by the Commissioner of Assessments of a determination of the State of Wisconsin Board of Assessors relating to tax key number 356-0312-111.
Resolution
Action: RECOMMENDED FOR ADOPTION Passed

A motion was made by ALD. PEREZ that this Resolution be RECOMMENDED FOR ADOPTION. This motion PREVAILED by the following vote:
17. Communication from the Intergovernmental Relations Division and Legislative Affairs Division relating to Legislative updates.
Communication
Action: HELD TO CALL OF THE CHAIR Passed

A motion was made by ALD. BAUMAN that this Communication be HELD TO CALL OF THE CHAIR. This motion PREVAILED by the following vote:
18. Resolution approving a contract between the City of Milwaukee and Grzeca Law Group for legal services relating to securing an employment-based nonimmigrant visa for a prospective Department of Emergency Communications employee.
Resolution
Action: RECOMMENDED FOR PLACING ON FILE Failed

A motion was made by ALD. BAUMAN that this Resolution be RECOMMENDED FOR PLACING ON FILE. This motion FAILED by the following vote:
19. Resolution authorizing the Office of the City Attorney to contract for legal services relating to conducting and responding to an audit of software licensing agreements.
Resolution
Action: RECOMMENDED FOR PLACING ON FILE Failed

A motion was made by ALD. BAUMAN that this Resolution be RECOMMENDED FOR PLACING ON FILE. This motion FAILED by the following vote:
20. Resolution authorizing settlement of claims in the lawsuits entitled 875 East 1, LLC et al. v. City of Milwaukee.
Resolution
Action: RECOMMENDED FOR ADOPTION Passed

A motion was made by ALD. WESTMORELAND that this Resolution be RECOMMENDED FOR ADOPTION. This motion PREVAILED by the following vote:
21. Resolution authorizing settlement of the lawsuit entitled Steven Kaywood v. City of Milwaukee, et al., United States District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin, Case No. 23-CV-1644.
Resolution
Action: RECOMMENDED FOR ADOPTION Passed

A motion was made by ALD. A. PRATT that this Resolution be RECOMMENDED FOR ADOPTION. This motion PREVAILED by the following vote:
22. Resolution authorizing payment of the claim of Josephine Purpora.
Resolution
Action: RECOMMENDED FOR ADOPTION Passed

A motion was made by ALD. BAUMAN that this Resolution be RECOMMENDED FOR ADOPTION. This motion PREVAILED by the following vote:
This meeting will be webcast live at www.milwaukee.gov/channel25.
The Judiciary and Legislation Committee may convene into closed session on Monday, April 13, 2026, in Room 301-B, City Hall, 200 E. Wells St., Milwaukee, Wisconsin, pursuant to s. 19.85(1)(g), Wis. Stats., for the purpose of conferring with the City Attorney who will render oral or written advice with respect to litigation in which the city is or is likely to become involved, and then may go into open session for the regular agenda.
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In the event that Common Council members who are not members of this committee attend this meeting, this meeting may also simultaneously constitute a meeting of the Common Council or any of the following committees: Community and Economic Development, Finance and Personnel, Judiciary and Legislation, Licenses, Public Safety and Health, Public Works, Zoning, Neighborhoods & Development, and/or Steering and Rules. Whether a simultaneous meeting is occurring depends on whether the presence of one or more of the Common Council member results in a quorum of the Common Council or any of the above committees, and, if there is a quorum of another committee, whether any agenda items listed above involve matters within that committee’s realm of authority. In the event that a simultaneous meeting is occurring, no action other than information gathering will be taken at the simultaneous meeting. Times for specific agenda items are estimations. If items cannot be heard at their specified times, they will be heard as soon as practicable thereafter.
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Meeting adjourned at 12:38 Joanna Urtiz Staff Assistant
251883 Resolution approving a contract between the City of Milwaukee and Grzeca Law Group for legal services relating to securing an employment-based nonimmigrant visa for a prospective Department of Emergency Communications employee.
Resolution
Action: RECOMMENDED FOR ADOPTION Passed

A motion was made by ALD. PEREZ that this Resolution be RECOMMENDED FOR ADOPTION. This motion PREVAILED by the following vote:
251910 Resolution authorizing the Office of the City Attorney to contract for legal services relating to conducting and responding to an audit of software licensing agreements.
Resolution
Action: RECOMMENDED FOR ADOPTION Passed

A motion was made by ALD. A. PRATT that this Resolution be RECOMMENDED FOR ADOPTION. This motion PREVAILED by the following vote:
251369 Substitute resolution relating to the appeal of James and Iyanura Lindsey for property damage.
Resolution
Action: RECOMMENDED FOR ADOPTION Passed

A motion was made by ALD. BAUMAN that this Resolution be RECOMMENDED FOR ADOPTION. This motion PREVAILED by the following vote:
Meeting convened at 9:03 AM

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