Lawsuit filed against tow company
A class action lawsuit has been filed against Breakthrough Towing.
By Charles Sercombe
A tow truck company that got chased out of Hamtramck is now facing a class action lawsuit.
Attorneys with the Truth2Power Civil Justice Fund recently filed a lawsuit in Wayne County Circuit Court against Breakthrough Towing Company alleging the company performed “illegal, predatory, and rogue practices,” according to the lawsuit.
According to a report by the Metro Times, a Detroit-based weekly news and arts publication, the owner of Breakthrough is denying the charges.
Breakthrough, which is located in Detroit, had been targeting cars parked after business hours in the CVS parking lot at Jos. Campau and Holbrook.
Patrons at Bumbo’s Bar, located across the street from CVS, complained the company was preying on them and required cash-only payments to get their cars unhooked or returned from the company’s holding lot.
Some accused the drivers of being threatening.
As it turned out, the CVS manager, Mike Raynor, admitted to The Review he had no contract with the tow company nor did he know the company had placed warning signs in the CVS parking lot.
The manager allowed for the signs to be removed, which they were by City Councilmember Ian Perrotta.
The CVS lot was not the only place where the company aggressively went after cars. Customers at a McDonald’s in midtown Detroit complained the company was towing their cars despite the fact that they were customers at the fast food restaurant.
They, too, were forced to pay in cash to get their cars returned.
For those who would like to join the lawsuit, one of the attorneys involved in the lawsuit, Tony Paris, can be reached at (313) 993-4505. You can also email the attorneys at:
info@truth2powercjf.com
One of the issues that has come up in this matter is the amount of red tape facing those who want to go to court to challenge tow companies.
In an email, attorney Tony Paris said there needs to be changes in state law.
“Our state law makers need to realize how behind Michigan is,” Paris said.
To file a complaint, he said, there is a 20-day deadline.
“And you need to post $115 in addition to first paying (or posting bond/escrow) all of the same fees you’re disputing (this is obviously a problem if the tow company doesn’t give receipts and accepts cash only),” he said.
“Further, you need a form from the Secretary of State that’s only generated if the tow company properly reports the tow to the police. This needs to change.”
Sept. 28, 2018
8 Responses to Lawsuit filed against tow company
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Gary Krantz
September 28, 2018 at 6:26 pm
This is good news.
Keep us abreast of further developments in the suit.
Fatema Hossain
September 29, 2018 at 4:08 pm
It has also been reported by Metro Times that AAA, the road service organization has terminated its relationship with Breakthough Towing as a service provider.
Metro Times also did an earlier report on McDonald’s patrons being victimized by Breakthrough.
http://www.metrotimes.com/news-hits/archives/2018/09/25/aaa-ends-relationship-with-predatory-detroit-towing-company-breakthrough
http://www.metrotimes.com/news-hits/archives/2018/09/11/predatory-towing-detroit-mcdonalds-customers-say-theyve-been-scammed
Ed Wilson
September 29, 2018 at 8:58 pm
Nice story.
John Dory
September 30, 2018 at 5:15 pm
Despite having ben fired by AAA as an emergency towing service, breakthrough Towing STILL advertises on its company website that it is a AAA emerrgency towing service:
http://www.breakthroughtowing.com
Gary Krantz
September 30, 2018 at 9:33 pm
Does anyone know if the State Police or any other law enforcement agency are investigating these Breakthrough Towing cases in Hamtramck and Detroit?
I cannot believe any car can be towed without any color of legal authority and police do nothing about it!
Fatema Hossain
October 7, 2018 at 4:35 pm
Breakthrough Towing was videotaped actually trying to tow away a vehicle with handicapped plates from a handicapped parking space from the Midtown McDonald’s and the car owner was later filmed coming out of the restaurant.
The Metro Times did the story as they are across the street from the McDonald’s location in question. They questioned an apparent “spotter” who calls in the tow truck on cars in the lot.
There is speculation that the McDonald’s management was unfairly collaborating with the towing service in question.
Sonya L Manners
December 1, 2018 at 7:28 am
How do I have someone contact me regarding my run in with this tow truck company as of yesterday 11/30/18. While parked at the Midtown Liquor Store. One person went into the store and two went into the resturant directly across the street. Within minutes a tow truck was backed up to my vehicle ready to tow it away. Stating I was illegally parked. Long story short police arrived due to me calling, reviewed the store video to corrobarate my story. But in the end I still had to pay out $125 cash to get the tow truck drive to unhook my vehicle.
Frank English
April 23, 2020 at 8:51 am
Its been known a long time about various predatory practices.. It seems to take 30yrs or more for anyone to do anything.. So much corruption and cutting corners here in Hamtramck.. A trumper whom has his house covered in trump flags but no bumper stickers on his car lol threatened to kill us many times a few weeks ago because he received a parking ticket in front of the fire hydrant by our house.. This is a daily occurrance by many here that i have documented, this particular man also has a fake handicap spot in front of his house and rides his motorcycle down our sidewalk and reving in front of our house.. The fake handicap use in Hamtramck is so out there and perverse.. The calling police and using city services to attack others for what you are guilty of.. i have many stories about that here as well that i continue to share on many platforms.
Governments tend to reflect the general disease of its people.. Too much insider trading in Hamtramck and Detroit, too many friends helping friends.. I have many stories and many facts i will continue to share. I myself am sick of watching the bar culture, city hall gang and more here that gets to do whatever it wants, the propaganda is sick..