Mazda of Navy Officer Auctioned During His Deployment Abroad | Carscoops

      The towing company is facing a lawsuit from the government for unlawfully auctioning off a servicemember’s vehicle while he was deployed on the USS Bunker Hill.

      While Lieutenant Jonathan Liongson was overseas, his 2011 Mazda6 was sold without any court order. As a result, he will receive $7,500 in compensation, and the towing firm will incur a $2,000 civil penalty.

      A towing company in California is liable for almost $10,000 due to the illegal towing and auctioning of a vehicle belonging to U.S. Navy Lieutenant Jonathan Liongson, who was deployed at the time.

      The Department of Justice reported that Liongson parked his Mazda6 filled with personal belongings at a friend's home while preparing for deployment. However, Tony’s Auto Center towed the car and eventually auctioned it off.

      This action violated the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, which mandates obtaining a court order before selling a servicemember’s vehicle. Following the incident, the government took legal action against the towing company on Liongson's behalf.

      Recently, both parties reached a settlement that will grant Liongson $7,500 in damages. Although details about the vehicle are sparse, Kelly Blue Book estimates that a 2011 Mazda6 with 140,000 miles would be valued between $4,800 and $7,400, indicating a reasonable compensation given potential variations in value based on mileage and features.

      In addition to compensating Liongson, Tony’s Auto Center is required to pay a civil penalty of $2,000 to the United States and implement new policies to prevent future violations of the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act.

      Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon of the Civil Rights Division emphasized that members of the armed forces should not have concerns about their vehicles being auctioned while they are serving to protect the nation's freedoms and rights. She mentioned that this settlement should signal to other towing companies not to take advantage of servicemembers.

      Since 2011, the government has recovered over $481 million in financial relief for more than 147,000 servicemembers through enforcement of the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act. Those in need of assistance are encouraged to contact their local Armed Forces Legal Assistance Program Office.