The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit against Southern California's S&K Towing Inc., accusing the company of auctioning off or disposing of at least 148 impounded vehicles belonging to military service members without obtaining the required court orders.
Key Takeaways
The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit against Southern California's S&K Towing Inc. for allegedly auctioning off at least 148 vehicles belonging to military service members without obtaining the required court orders.
- DOJ accuses S&K Towing of violating Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA)
- Vehicles were impounded from Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton between August 2020 and April 2025
- The company allegedly sold vehicles with military equipment still inside
- DOJ seeks monetary relief for affected service members
According to the complaint, many of these vehicles were taken from Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton between August 2020 and April 2025. The DOJ claims that S&K Towing violated the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA), which mandates extra legal steps before a company can sell or dispose of an active-duty service member's property.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli stated, "The men and women who serve in our nation’s military deserve peace of mind in knowing that their legal rights will be protected at home while they are away serving the United States." The DOJ is seeking monetary relief for affected service members and additional penalties against the company.
S&K Towing allegedly continued to sell vehicles even after being informed by a Camp Pendleton attorney in 2024 that they needed a court order. An employee reportedly told the attorney, "We do this all the time." The company has declined to comment on the lawsuit.
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