Attorney General Bob Ferguson filed a lawsuit Tuesday against Tacoma-based Burns Towing Inc., alleging that the company illegally auctioned off a military service member’s vehicle while he was deployed.
While deployed, local Navy sailor Alex Vaughn left his car at a Pierce County apartment complex where it was later towed. Burns Towing proceeded to sell it without verifying the military status of its owner and obtaining the appropriate court order as dictated by the Service Members’ Civil Relief Act that provides protections to active service members. The law requires companies to obtain a court order before seizing or selling property.
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Upon returning home and finding that his car had been impounded, Vaughn contacted the Navy Legal Assistance Office, which sent a letter to Burns stating that the company had violated the law. Burns ignored the letter. Vaughn then contacted the attorney’s general office, which reached out to Burns, requesting a response to the complaint. Burns Towing responded by saying it had no record that the owner of the car was an active military member.
The Department of Defense provides an active-duty service database that companies can pay a private company to verify a person’s military status.
The lawsuit asked Burns Towing to repay the service member for damages resulting from the car’s sale in addition to civil penalty and attorney’s fees. The lawsuit also asks the court to impose injunctions against Burns preventing future violations of the law.
Ferguson is investigating whether Burns has committed additional violations.
Cox Media Group
