EDWARDSVILLE — A Wood River man has filed a class action lawsuit against a towing company for allegedly charging him excessive fees to retrieve his vehicle after it was stolen.
Michael Ledbetter, individually and on behalf of all others similarly situated, filed a complaint Feb. 22 in Madison County Circuit Court against Trickey's Service Inc. and Jean P. Kainz, alleging they unlawfully charged a full day's storage rate even though the actual storage time was only a few hours.
According to the complaint, on Feb. 15, Ledbetter's Jeep was stolen and towed by Trickey's Service. The suit says Ledbetter became aware of this only after a friend saw his Jeep in the defendant's lot in Wood River.
Ledbetter claims he was able to retrieve his vehicle after paying a total charge of $538.
The plaintiff alleges the defendants charged him substantially in excess of similar charges for voluntary tows and they forced payment by threatening to charge increasing storage fees.
Lebetter seeks trial by jury, an award of more than $50,000, plus costs of suit.
He is represented by attorney Thomas G. Maag of Maag Law Firm LLC in Wood River.
Madison County Circuit Court case number 17-L-267