GOINES HAD SOME GONADS HERE
Goines Towing & Recovery – a North Carolina-based towing company – allegedly violated the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA), according to a press release issued by the United States Justice Department.
Apparently, the company ignored protections which applied to servicemembers and was required, among other things, to file sworn statements attesting to whether or not the individual whose car was being confiscated was in the military before it could secure a court order authorizing the vehicle’s sale. (Among other things, servicemembers are entitled to the appointment of counsel.)
In a first-of-its-kind complaint, filed on March 3, 2023, the United States alleged SCRA violations by Goines and sought the recovery of monetary damages and injunctive relief. In late December, a settlement of the dispute was announced. In addition to a $67,000 (approx.) payment to impacted individuals, Goines has also agreed to modify its policies and practices.
In a written statement, Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, noted that “Under federal law towing companies are required to file accurate military affidavits after making a good faith effort to determine whether vehicle owners are in military service …. By failing to follow federal law, Goines deprived servicemembers of the opportunity to reclaim their vehicles. This consent order demonstrates the Justice Department’s ongoing commitment to protecting the rights of servicemembers and their families.”
Goines should have kept in tow ... and towed the line ….
# # #