City of Milwaukee Office of the City Attorney
Press Release

City of Milwaukee Drughouse Lawsuit Update

 

By - Dec 20th, 2019 10:55 am

City Attorney Grant F. Langley is pleased to announce that on December 18, 2019, the Honorable Carl Ashley of the Milwaukee County Circuit Court signed a default judgment order in City of Milwaukee v. Brenden M. Julien, Sr. (Case Number 19-CV-6840), a lawsuit filed by the City of Milwaukee alleging that a drug house owned by Mr. Julien located at 1513 North 37th Street in Milwaukee, Wisconsin was a public nuisance negatively affecting the quality of life of the surrounding neighborhood. The Court Order rendered judgment in the City’s favor and allows the City to now sell the property with the proceeds of that sale to benefit the City for AODA, community development and policing initiatives. The current assessed value of the property is $42,300.

In September, the City Attorney filed a lawsuit against Mr. Julien for failing to abate a public nuisance drug house. The subject property of this lawsuit is in close proximity to the Mary McLeod Bethune Academy elementary school.  Last summer, community members and school representatives observed drug and prostitution related activity stemming from the property and alerted the Milwaukee Police Department (“MPD”), prompting an investigation.

In June, a search warrant was executed at the property by MPD. Crack cocaine and heroin were seized from the property in amounts consistent with the sale of illegal narcotics, along with evidence of prostitution related activity. The City’s complaint alleged that the property owner knew or should have known of his tenant’s illegal activities and failed to act as a responsible property owner to abate and prevent illegal drug activity at his property. During surveillance conducted by MPD prior to the warrant, officers observed the owner of the property present while drug related transactions were occurring.

If any party is interested in purchasing the property, please contact Assistant City Attorney Heather Hecimovich Hough at hhough@milwaukee.gov, or (414) 286-2615.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.

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