PITTSBURGH — A car dealership alleges the City of Philadelphia illegally seized one of its stolen vehicles and then sold it at auction.
Car Vision Inc. filed a complaint May 17 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania against the Philadelphia Parking Authority and the City of Philadelphia alleging violation of the Motor Vehicle Code and other claims.
According to the complaint, Car Vision maintained lots on Essington Avenue in Philadelphia to store cars and on Oct. 13, 2020, reported multiple thefts of cars from that location to police. It claims that on the night of the theft, Philadelphia police pulled over an unlicensed driver who was in one of the stolen vehicles, an Audi, for driving without headlights but did not arrest the individual.
Car Vision alleges that on Oct. 20, 2020, it was notified by the City that the stolen Audi had been recovered and towed to the Philadelphia Parking Authority. It further alleges that while waiting to obtain a release order from traffic court in order to get possession of the Audi, the Philadelphia Parking Authority sold the vehicle at an auction.
Car Vision claims the defendants imposed "unduly onerous conditions" on them to get the release of the Audi before it was sold at auction. Car Vision also claims the City of Philadelphia was made aware that the vehicle had been stolen and that it illegally seized the Audi and failed to return it.
Car Vision seeks monetary and all other just relief. It is represented by Nicholas Daller, In-House Counsel for Car Vision Inc., in Trooper.
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania case number 2:22-CV-01933