Legal Question in Civil Litigation in Connecticut
Wrongful vehicle towing
My car was towed from a lot adjacent to a restaurant where I was having dinner. The lot in which I parked was clearly signed in the following manner: ''Shopping plaza parking only. Police take notice. All others will be ticketed and towed. Parking permitted after 8:00 pm''.
I parked in the lot at 8:30 pm, and the receipt from the towing company reflects a tow time of 9pm.
Speaking with the towing company, I was shown a copy of their contract stating an order to tow any restaurant patrons parked in the plaza lot. I was told that it was generally unenforced, but that the plaza owner had called the towing company on the evening that my car was towed.
As I was in a restaurant that appeared to be part of the shopping plaza, and as I was parked after the stated expiration of the no parking period, do I have a case? Against whom: the restaurant, plaza management, or tow company? Would I be able to recover the cost of both the taxi service I used to travel to the towing company's office ($40) and the towing charge ($154.00)? Would this be a matter that I could address in small claims court, or would I need to consult a lawyer?
Thanks in advance-- any help is much appreciated.
1 Answer from Attorneys
Re: Wrongful vehicle towing
I would go with small claims on this one, if you're in Connecticut. It's still unclear to me why you were towed, and it appears that the signage indicated you were free to park in that area after 8pm.