Chula Vista Towing Company Settles Case of Auctioned Servicemember's Car

Tony's Auto Center, a towing company in Chula Vista, California, has agreed to pay $7,500 in damages to U.S. Navy Lieutenant Jonathan Liongson and a $2,000 civil penalty after auctioning his car without a court order while he was deployed at sea. The car, a 2011 Mazda 6 containing personal items, was impounded by police due to expired registration and sold at auction about two months later. This action violated the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA), which requires a court order before disposing of a servicemember's property. The settlement not only mandates monetary compensation but also requires the company to implement new policies to prevent future violations of the SCRA, a law designed to protect the legal and financial interests of active-duty military personnel. The case underscores the importance of protecting servicemembers’ rights while they are fulfilling their military duties. Federal officials emphasized that such legal protections allow service members to focus on their responsibilities without undue concern for their personal affairs back home.