(Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
A Salem Lakes Trustee has filed suit against Kenosha County Eye just a little over a month after his crushing primary election, in which he took 6th place out of 7 candidates. Only the top three vote-getters will be on the Village Board. The three challengers scored a resounding victory and Culat is likely to lose his seat on April 4, 2023.
Culat isn’t blaming himself or his campaign for the rejection by his constituents. Instead, he is blaming Kenosha County Eye, and reporting, that he says is false. The defamation suit was filed last Wednesday. In the suit, Culat says he lives in Illinois and Wisconsin. In the suit Culat mentions only one specific allegation that KCE made in a February 7, 2023 article we published. We said in part:
“Michael Culat is a trustee for the Village of Salem Lakes and a local Realtor out of Antioch, IL. He previously worked as a police officer for the City of Antioch, IL, being hired in 1985 and allegedly leaving under suspicious circumstances in 1991. According to a police report written by his then-Lieutenant, he seemingly left the department so suddenly, that he had to be hounded by the police department to get their police equipment back from Culat.”
In Culat’s lawsuit he says “Mr. Mathewson issued such statements for the purpose of causing harm to
Mr. Culat……….. seeking to harm Mr. Culat.”
Culat says that this statement is false. Culat further states that “Among other things, Mr. Culat has suffered reputational damage in the community, damage to his bid for reelection as Village Trustee, and damage to his professional work as a real estate agent.”
Culat is asking a Kenosha County Circuit Court Judge to shut down Kenosha County Eye in a request for a temporary injunction. This will never happen. Here is why. Kenosha County Eye has on some occasions, exercised restraint with the information we publish. In this instance we said “He previously worked as a police officer for the City of Antioch, IL, being hired in 1985 and allegedly leaving under suspicious circumstances in 1991.”
KCE could have elaborated on this issue, but chose not to. He has family in this community and the truth of what was alleged to have happened when he was a cop was much, much worse. We now choose to publish the full truth about Mr. Culat’s short career as a law enforcement officer.
According to an article posted by the Chicago Tribune on April 16, 1991 and another published by the Tribune on July 7, 1993, and a court order dismissing Culat’s lawsuit, Culat not only left the department under suspicious circumstances, he was fired for misconduct. The Chief of Police at the time recommended he be fired and the police and fire commission upheld that decision on April 4, 1991.
The Chief of Police at the time asked the State Police to install a hidden camera in the police department. Culat was caught on camera, hugging, kissing, and fondling a pregnant dispatcher. KCE is not releasing this woman’s name. The dispatcher was also fired and sued the department. Culat was also found to have gone through the Chief’s mail. Culat was also found to have withheld information about a secret liquor store sting.
Another suspicious incident shortly before Culat’s termination was reported by the Tribune. Many firearms ended up missing from the evidence room and an investigation was conducted. Culat was in charge of the evidence room.
Culat only had $51 in his pocket and $19 in the bank when he filed bankruptcy in 2010 according to bankruptcy documents obtained by KCE.
(File Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
Here is a statement by my attorney:
“I represent Kevin Mathewson in defense of the above referenced litigation that was filed by one of the Village of Salem Lakes Trustees, Michael Culat, who is facing significant opposition from thousands of residents in the election that will take place on April 4th.
Instead of campaigning on his record, Mr. Culat has taken the unprecedented step of attempting to silence free speech and the free press by suing Mr. Mathewson (and others) and seeking a preliminary injunction to stop Mr. Mathewson from reporting on the candidates’ record less than 2 weeks before the election.
Mr. Mathewson is confident that Mr. Culat’s injunction will be denied and this lawsuit will be quickly dismissed as the case has no merit. One of the pillars of the United States Constitution is the protections it affords to free press.”
Attorney Eric Olson
25 Responses
Emotions can become very heated when the skunks are exposed to the light of day.
Kevin is a good man and does not deserve to be attacked. He is simply filling an enormous void because of the left wing sewage that people in Kenosha have had to suffer with for over 50 years. There are no other honest alternatives. Having said that let us, as always look for answers from the Bible.
Romans 12:17-21
17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”[a] says the Lord. 20
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>”Emotions can become very heated when the skunks are exposed to the light of day.”<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Sure seems that way.
Your articles get better and better, every time I read them.
The people that criticize your efforts, either don’t want to see the truth, or they have something of their own to hide.
Keep up the great work.
Checkmate.
Great work Kevin.
Hopefully the whistleblowers who in the past remained silent because it was established “nothing would happen” and truth would be stifled now come forward in large numbers to put some of the elected parasites out of a job.
Great job Kevin!
What a goof this guy is.
Will anyone sign a contract with this man to buy or sell their real estate? Perhaps a countersuit is in order…send this man and his attorney who chose to take the case back to the streets with a negative $$$ outcome.
Go get them KEVIN, Thats what i like about you!!!
Kevin, I fully support you and your work. I have known Culat for years in his capacity with the Town of Salem and I know you are absolutely accurate in your coverage. you should not be sued, but perhaps he should
The Mask has been removed revealing the true Mike Culat. A Civil Master, rather than Civil Servant, who seeks to tread on Freedom of Speech Liberties while pursuing a “what’s in it for me” agenda to say the least.
Great work!! Had he just taken the blame, none of us would have known what a real scumbag he is, now we all know the truth of what really happened when he was a cop!! Keep exposing these people in high places, as you are the only one who is willing to expose everyone and bring us the real news!!! Love your news of exposing only the truth. As the saying goes…the truth hurts!! Haha
I cant believe this idiot found an attorney even dumber than him to file this suit.
One would doubt that it is being done on a contingency basis. ???
When the “LOCOMOTIVE OF TRUTH” (Kevin Mathewson) delivers facts to the world, it’s often the manure spreaders that attempt to derail the train.
In my opinion, Mathewson writes his columns with the precision of a brain surgeon and with the caution of a fighter pilot under fire.
Mathewson shines the flame of truth in a world too often polluted by “gas” fumes.
It’s not an easy task, it can be hazardous.
People and corporations become their most dangerous when they feel they are about to be exposed.
The truth has no side.
Truth has no target.
By filing this pathetic lawsuit against Mathewson, Mr. Culat has chosen to fan the flames of Culat’s shady history.
A history that seems to involve inappropriate behavior, arrogance, poor judgement (and worse, ) in my opinion.
Freedom of the press, free speech, historical documents, facts and personal opinions will be the shields to protect Mr. Mathewson from this “lawfare” attack.
Kenosha is blessed to have a truth warrior (Mathewson) and the Kenosha County Eye covering the good, the bad, the ugly and the possibilities…
Perhaps Mr. Culat will do the wise thing and withdraw his lawsuit against KCE and Mathewson before a black light is switched on that may highlight more misdeeds of Culat’s past.
Start with looking in a mirror Mr. Culat.
With God’s grace you might admit your misdeeds to yourself.
Apologize, ask for forgiveness and move forward with a compassionate willing spirit.
Change for the better is available to all of us until our last breath.
Lawsuits are stressful, expensive and painful.
The voter’s have spoken and so will a jury of your peers…
Stay strong Kevin!
I’m sharing your article with numerous media organizations.
I’m hoping you will be interviewed about this case.
You deserve national support.????
I’m curious to know if anything that occurred at the police department rose to the level of requiring that it be disclosed on the application to obtain or renew his real estate license in Illinois. That might be interesting.
Still better than Simmons would have been.
Time to change the Salem Board , I think most of us residents are tired of the shenanigans on the board
Since Culat likes to throw stones from his glass house; I hope the KCE can obtain the pen camera video of Culat playing grab ass with the dispatcher on the tax payer’s time and dime for your viewing pleasure ?
Anyone who knows what this means can infer what’s coming down the pipeline next for this crook and Murdock, Culats protégé and terd herder. I wonder what kind of dirt culat has on the rest of the village board incumbents? What dirt does he have or was involved in with Murdock? They’ve all gotta see the headlights coming at them and they will give each other up in a pathetic attempt to save their own shitty legacy. They would rather stand silently behind this crooked fuck, than do what’s right for the people who they now have to answer to. The people come first, and they forgot that shit long ago. Thank God for freedom of the press and the right to bear arms against your crooked governments. Imagine what the fuck would be happening NOW if there wasn’t a free press and farmers with ARs in every room in the house…
Government is the problem, not the solution….these washed up crooks are solutions looking for problems.
Keep digging, where there’s kissing, groping, and massaging, there’s always somebody getting screwed..
Thanks to the risk takers and smart people who have had the balls to stand up and make this change happen.
Thank you to the candidates who have the balls to drain this swamp.
You Don’t have to wait another day! Vote early 10am- 2pm Monday- Friday (unless you have to work to pay these fucks salaries) ….did somebody say free speech or press or something about silencing the voters? Or was that just a coincidence, like the skid steer?
U CAN’T MAKE THIS SHIT UP
Did anyone else on here receive a letter from Mr. Culat in their mail? I’d like to know if he got my name and address off of the voting records or tax records. I don’t like him using that information for his own agenda. I barely read the letter. I honestly didn’t know what I was looking at at first until I saw his name all over it. The envelope was plain and I thought it was from someone trying to give me another credit card or loan. It rattled on about all he’s done for us and when you flipped it over there was the Town’s Budget along with how much he’s done to ensure the Town be financially “strong”. I then tore it in half and threw it in the garbage. I kinda wish I’d saved it now, so my friend and I could have a good laugh over it.
– after reviewing the budget yesterday, there seems to be a lot of excessive spending. I have watched all the board meetings, and big items were never discussed. Why do they only video Committee of the whole, and regular board meetings. Why aren’t all of the meetings recorded? With many online meeting platforms, it also provides the option to transcibe. Why do we just have just a highlight of vague minutes. The village states that meeting info is on the websites, and post office. Why aren’t they displayed on the village or fire department sign?
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I think everyone received one of those embarrassing letters
He can send to everyone in postal district, just like the schools do, with out s name or address. He just needs to write a check to usps.
Shouldn’t toss things that you could use to your advantage.