Can I file a suit for theft?

Question

My friends car was parked at hotel she had to leave as she had family crisis and was gone a few months. She thought car was safe as there was no ticket anymore needed to park car at hotel. When friend came back car was towed and a lot of her stuff in vehicle was taken like cds, radio, games, spare change and personal notes and cards. can she file a suit against the tow company. i think this is theft and they should have kept al her things not just decided a few things they were going to keep for her. Please advise ASAP especially if you knwo the laws in Minnesota and are a police

Answer 1

No, as your friends right to park at the hotel ended at the time of checkout that she last paid for the room. The hotel had every right to have the car towed after that.

As you indicate your friend left the car for several MONTHS, and unless you friend had a very high Blue Book value car, at some point may have even exceeded the value of the car, at which point the towing/storage company could file for legal ownership and have it granted and it would be legal for them to sell any and all assets of and in the car.

Even if the Blue Book is more, they are not required to release the vehicle or any of its contents unless she pays the full towing and storage charge. At the point, if thing are/were missing, she would have the option of suing for the value of the items, provided she has photos from the day the car was towed showing the contents allegedly missing; otherwise, would be very difficult, if not laughable to a Judge that would hear the Case in Small Claims Court after abandoning the vehicle for several months.