Tony's Auto Center, a towing service located in Chula Vista, California, has reached a settlement with federal authorities regarding allegations of violating the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA). The allegations stemmed from the unlawful auctioning of a car owned by U.S. Navy Lieutenant Jonathan Liongson while he was deployed.
The complaint details that Lieutenant Liongson, who was deployed in November 2022 aboard the USS Bunker Hill, left his 2011 Mazda 6 with personal items parked at a friend's residence. During his deployment, the Chula Vista Police Department impounded the vehicle due to expired registration. Following this, Tony's Auto Center towed the car and subsequently auctioned it off without securing a court order, as mandated by the SCRA.
Upon returning from deployment in March 2023, Lieutenant Liongson discovered his car had been sold, prompting him to contact the towing company. The SCRA ensures legal and financial safeguards for military members, including requiring anyone holding a lien on a servicemember’s property to obtain a court order before disposing of it.
U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon emphasized the importance of adhering to the SCRA, stating, "The SCRA protects the rights of the men and women who serve in our Armed Forces... We hope this settlement encourages all towing companies to review and improve their policies."
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Civil Rights Division remarked, “Members of our armed forces should not have to worry about their cars being auctioned off... This settlement should send a strong message to other towing companies."
As part of the settlement, Lieutenant Liongson will be awarded $7,500 in damages. Additionally, the United States is set to receive a $2,000 civil penalty. Tony’s Auto Center has agreed to implement new procedures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The matter was jointly managed by the Civil Rights Division’s Housing and Civil Enforcement Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California. Since 2011, the Justice Department has provided over $481 million in relief to servicemembers under SCRA enforcement.
Servicemembers who believe their SCRA rights have been breached are advised to reach out to the nearest Armed Forces Legal Assistance Program Office.
This case was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelly A. Reis.