New York Attorney General Letitia James filed a lawsuit Tuesday against a towing company and its owner for repeatedly deceiving and harassing hundreds of New Yorkers in a community in the state.
The company, known as Bobby’s Towing, and its owner and operator, Robert Scores, operated in Poughkeepsie. The lawsuit alleges that for years Scores allegedly engaged in rude behavior, illegally towed cars, overcharged towing fees, falsified towing tickets and made racist and derogatory comments to vehicle owners.
Additionally, Score allegedly actively patrolled the streets for cars to tow, even if private owners did not ask for a car to be towed. Bobby’s Towing persistently violated New York business laws and the City of Poughkeepsie’s Towing Ordinance, the prosecutor said.
DA James is taking action to correct this illegal behavior and protect New Yorkers. Through her lawsuit, the Democrat seeks restitution and refunds for those who were defrauded.
“We are slamming the brakes on this illegal and predatory behavior that has hurt too many vulnerable New Yorkers,” said Attorney General James. “For too long, Bobby’s Towing intimidated New Yorkers who relied on their cars to get to work, take their children to school, shop for groceries and run errands. No one should have to pay hundreds of dollars to get their car back when they did nothing wrong. Today, we’re taking action to stop Bobby’s Towing from harassing more New Yorkers on the streets of Poughkeepsie. There is no place for predatory businesses like this in New York.”
The Prosecutor’s Office opened an investigation into Bobby’s Towing after receiving multiple complaints about the company and the aggressive and even racist behavior of the owner. The OAG investigation found that Mr. Scores persistently engaged in deceptive and predatory business practices, including:
- Towing vehicles even when the owners were on site and willing to move their cars.
- Towing cars that were temporarily idling.
- Falsifying towing tickets with false justifications of the towing and the cost.
- Additionally, Mr. Scores repeatedly told consumers to report the trailers to their insurance as roadside assistance for insurance reimbursement, which is illegal. Mr. Scores often failed to properly hook cars to his tow truck, resulting in significant and costly vehicle damage.
The owner, according to the lawsuit, repeatedly violated the City of Poughkeepsie Towing Ordinance by charging more than $85 for towing fees, failing to wait the required 20-minute grace period before towing, overcharging for storage fees and charging administrative and other service fees that are prohibited. In multiple affidavits obtained by the OAG, the car owners shared that Mr. Scores had his car towed less than 10 minutes after he was abandoned.
Through her lawsuit, filed in Dutchess County State Supreme Court, Attorney General James seeks:
- Conditional injunctions preventing Mr. Scores from operating a towing business unless he obtains a $100,000 bond.
- Reimbursement for vehicle owners/operators for illegal or unjustified towing, with reimbursement including any and all damages, such as lost wages, in the event of illegal towing.
- Restitution for all known and unknown consumers.
- An end to all deceptive and predatory business practices.
- Return of illicit profits obtained.
- Sanctions.
Attorney General James encourages New Yorkers harmed by Bobby’s trailer to file an online complaint with your Poughkeepsie regional office or call 845-485-3900.
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