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.
I had to take a $40.00 taxi ride to the towing company's office several towns away, and pay a fee of $154.00 to recover my car.
Speaking with the towing company, I was shown a copy of their contract with the plaza owner stating an order to tow any restaurant patrons parked in the plaza lot. No time restrictions were listed on the contract, although, again, the lot was clearly signed in several locations. I was told that the parking restrictions were generally unenforced, but that the plaza owner had called the towing company directly on the day 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 and the towing charge? Would this be a matter that I could address in small claims court, or would I need to consult a lawyer?
I, of course, have pictures of the signage, video of the plaza, a copy of the contract between the towing company and the plaza owner, and all appropriate receipts.
Thanks in advance-- any help is much appreciated.
I parked in the lot at 8:30 pm, and the receipt from the towing company reflects a tow time of 9pm.
I had to take a $40.00 taxi ride to the towing company's office several towns away, and pay a fee of $154.00 to recover my car.
Speaking with the towing company, I was shown a copy of their contract with the plaza owner stating an order to tow any restaurant patrons parked in the plaza lot. No time restrictions were listed on the contract, although, again, the lot was clearly signed in several locations. I was told that the parking restrictions were generally unenforced, but that the plaza owner had called the towing company directly on the day 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 and the towing charge? Would this be a matter that I could address in small claims court, or would I need to consult a lawyer?
I, of course, have pictures of the signage, video of the plaza, a copy of the contract between the towing company and the plaza owner, and all appropriate receipts.
Thanks in advance-- any help is much appreciated.