Dallas towing company auctioned off active-duty service members' cars, feds allege in lawsuit

A Dallas-based company towed and auctioned off vehicles belonging to members of the military while they were on active duty, the Justice Department alleges in a federal lawsuit filed Monday.

United Tows' actions violated the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, which protects the finances of military members while they are serving, federal lawyers said.

The towing company does not have an attorney listed in court records. The company did not immediately respond to a voicemail message seeking comment, and multiple phone numbers listed for its owner were out of service.

The lawsuit highlights the case of an airman who began basic training in August 2017 at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland.

He arranged to leave his 1998 Toyota Corolla in the parking lot of a Lake Highlands martial arts studio where he had been a teacher. Because he had ended his apartment lease he stored personal items in the car, including a laptop and a gym bag, the lawsuit says.

https://www.dallasnews.com/news/courts/2020/09/29/dallas-towing-company-auctioned-off-active-duty-service-members-cars-feds-allege-in-lawsuit/