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 …
Read more “Historic Victory: NYC Ends “No-Notice” Derelict Vehicle Seizures”
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 …
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 …
Read more “Massachusetts Law Provides Powerful Protection for Vehicle Lienholders/Lessors”