Civil suit filed in police brutality case

On June 19 Frank Jude Jr. filed a $30 million claim against the City of Milwaukee on behalf of himself and Maria Jude, his wife. He consciously filed the claim on Juneteenth. According to Jude’s attorney, the city can immediately reject the claim, suggest a recommendation or fail to act for four months, meaning the claim is “deemed denied.” After that, a lawsuit can be filed.

Frank Jude

The claim, among other charges, states that selective hiring, training procedures and supervision in the Police Department all were responsible for the savage beating of Jude.

“I am filing this claim to allow me to get back what the police officers took from my family and me,” said Jude. “No amount of money can undo what happened, but this claim is a first step in allowing me to recover from my injuries, my medical bills, my lost wages and jobs, and most importantly, my dignity.”

Jude’s claim details his near killing in October 2004 when he was savagely beaten during a party by as many as 15 off-duty white cops. The cops claimed Jude stole the wallet and badge of one of the officers, who hosted the event at his house.

Jude after being beaten by cops.

On April 14 an all-white jury acquitted the only three officers charged in Jude’s beating—Andrew Spengler, Jon Bartlett and Daniel Masarik—sparking worldwide condemnation and ongoing protests including an April 18 demonstration of 4,000 people. On May 15 massive motorcades from three churches converged on the federal prosecutor’s office in Milwaukee demanding that a federal case be opened. Ministers from over 50 congregations participated in the “Death of Justice” motorcade, delivering petitions with over 12,000 signatures. (Final Call, June 6)

All three acquitted cops have a history of police brutality. Bartlett has been charged at least three times with “excessive force” against Black men, including a fatal shooting of which he was acquitted by a federal jury in May. Masarik used a Taser stun gun on at least six people over a three-month period in 2005. All three continue to receive pay and benefits under a Wisconsin state law while they appeal their dismissals from the Police Department.

The Jude claim is among the biggest filed against the city. The family of Ernest Lacy, who died in police custody in 1981, also filed a $30 million lawsuit, and settled for $600,000. The family of Daniel Bell, who was killed by Milwaukee police in 1958, filed a $100 million suit, and settled for $1.6 million.