Homeless man files complaint against state senator

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A homeless Milwaukee man filed a complaint against Wisconsin Sen. Lena Taylor, D-Milwaukee, alleging the legislator, who is an attorney, illegally cashed a check in his name and kept the money.

Richard Scull said Taylor represented him in a 2003 civil case against Associated Bank to recover payment owed to him for a residential fire restoration job in Milwaukee. An online search of court records did not find any 2003 cases in Milwaukee that involved Scull as a plaintiff against Associated Bank.

Reached by phone, Scull, who said he is unemployed and homeless, claimed he and Taylor agreed to file suit and that she ultimately cashed at least one check in his name during her representation.

Taylor could not immediately be reached for comment, but she maintains a law office, Lena Taylor & Associates, in Milwaukee.

According to the complaint filed March 1, Taylor allegedly received an undisclosed amount of money from Associated Bank while representing Scull.

“I haven’t seen a penny,” Scull said. “I don’t know what she got.”

He declined to disclose the amount in question or elaborate on his legal arrangement with Taylor.  The complaint only indicates the amount claimed is greater than $5,000.

While he filed the complaint pro se, Scull said he is in the process of finding an attorney to pursue the case. Once that happens, he said, he plans to file an amended complaint with specific damage claims.

“I’ve been doing all the work myself in law libraries,” he said. “But I am going to put in a motion with the court to get an attorney.”

Taylor Complaint (PDF)