RudyMeola – Meola Law Firm

Client Alert: Federal Court Ruling StrengthensMassachusetts Lienholder Recovery Rights

by RudyMeolaUncategorized 8 October 20268 October 2026No Comments

A recent decision in American Honda Finance Corporation v. D & G Towing and Auto Repair Service, Inc., No. 1:24-cv-12121 (D. Mass.), is an important victory for vehicle lienholders and leasing companies. Its central significance is straightforward: a tow yard that holds a police-towed vehicle as leverage to force payment of towing or storage charges …

Important Federal Decision Rejects Tow-Yard “Abandonment” Tactics

by RudyMeolaUncategorized 23 September 202622 September 2026No Comments

A recent federal decision provides important support for lienholders and leasing companies confronting tow-yard demands following police- or government-directed impounds. In Santander Consumer USA, Inc. v. Incorporated Village of Hempstead, No. 22-CV-4428 (E.D.N.Y. Sept. 15, 2026), the court rejected the proposition that a secured creditor abandons its interest merely by declining to pay disputed towing …

Historic Victory: NYC Ends “No-Notice” Derelict Vehicle Seizures

by RudyMeolaUncategorized 7 August 20267 August 2026No Comments

For years, the New York City Department of Sanitation (DSNY) operated one of the most intrusive vehicle impound policies in the country. Under its “derelict vehicle” policy, the City could seize a vehicle, declare it junk, and destroy it—without ever notifying the owner, lienholder, or lessor. There was no opportunity to recover the vehicle, challenge …

Weathering the Title Fraud Tsunami

by RudyMeolaUncategorized 14 July 202614 July 2026No Comments

Protecting Lienholder Interests in an Era of Forged Titles Client Advisory Title fraud is blowing up nationwide. The usual scenario involves a vehicle being sold to an unsuspecting buyer with what appears to be a clean title—but that transaction does not extinguish a valid lienholder interest. Banks, captive finance companies, and other secured creditors need …

Massachusetts Law Provides Powerful Protection for Vehicle Lienholders/Lessors

by RudyMeolaUncategorized 10 June 202610 June 2026No Comments

State law sometimes affords lienholders and lessors significant protections that remain underused because they are not widely understood. In this regard, we are fortunate to have a guest star for this issue—Massachusetts attorney Kevin J. Kiely, of Kiely & Ferrante, LLC, who highlights Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 255, Section 35, which provides that a lienholder …

New York City Adopts New Procedures to Protect Lienholder and Leasing Company Interests in Vehicle Seizures Effective March 16, 2026

by RudyMeolaEditorials 4 February 20264 February 2026No Comments

A recent federal lawsuit against the City of New York has led to major changes that directly benefit lienholders, leasing companies, and their customers. The City’s Department of Sanitation (DSNY) has implemented new procedures to ensure that financial institutions and lessors are notified and given a fair opportunity to reclaim or challenge the seizure of …

Federal Court Orders the NYC Parking Violations Bureau to Listen to Lienholder Concerns

by RudyMeolaEditorials 21 January 202621 January 2026No Comments

If you’ve ever tried to recover a vehicle from the New York City Parking Violations Bureau (PVB, operated by Daisy Alverio), you know how frustrating it can be. The process often feels inconsistent, slow, and confusing — and for years, lienholders have had to deal with a system that doesn’t always take their needs into …

Court Voids Garage Lien and Vehicle Sale: A Critical Win for Lienholders

by RudyMeolaEditorials 4 December 20254 December 2025No Comments

When a secured vehicle is wrongfully sold or transferred, every hour counts. Swift legal action—backed by precise knowledge of New York’s Lien Law—often determines whether a lienholder can recover its collateral. A recent ruling by Justice David A. Weinstein offers a powerful reminder: garages that cut corners on notice requirements risk losing their lien rights …

Client Alert: Title-Washing Fraud – What Every Lienholder Needs to Know

by RudyMeolaEditorials 18 November 202518 November 2025No Comments

Title-Washing: A Growing Threat to Lienholders Title-washing—the fraudulent removal of a lien from a vehicle title—is on the rise. For lienholders and lessors, it poses a serious risk to collateral interests and recovery rights. The good news is that in most cases, the law allows you to undo these fraudulent transactions and restore your lien. …

WARNING: Do Not Obtain “Repo” Titles on Vehicles that are Impounded by the NYPD

by RudyMeolaEditorials 15 August 202515 August 2025No Comments

To recover a vehicle that has been impounded by the NYPD, a lienholder must present a title in the lienholder’s name. The NYPD will not accept any title that is illegally obtained as doing so would make the police complicit in illegal action. There are only two lawful ways for a lienholder to obtain title: …