Maag files class action over towed vehicle; Says car had been left less than two hours

An East Alton woman claims a tow truck company wrongly towed her vehicle without her consent.

Tiffany A. Craycraft filed a lawsuit May 10 in Madison County Circuit Court against Black Lane Auto Parts.

Craycraft alleges Black Lane towed her Ford Taurus on April 11 without her consent.

"The Plaintiff's Taurus was located on the side of the road, in Caseyville, Illinois, substantially less than two hours, at the time it was towed by Defendant," the suit states.

Black Lane should not have towed Craycraft's vehicle and does not have authorization to tow vehicles unless they have been abandoned on a toll highway or interstate highway for more than two hours or have been abandoned on a highway in an urban district for more than 10 hours, the complaint says.

Despite Illinois statutes, Black Lane has towed hundreds of vehicles without waiting the required time frames specified under state law, Craycraft claims.

Craycraft has filed a putative class action complaint. In it, she seeks a judgment of more than $100,000, plus damages, costs, attorney's fees and other relief the court deems just.

Thomas G. Maag of Maag Law Firm in Wood River will be representing her.

Madison County Circuit Court case number: 12-L-641.