HOUSTON — A Washington state woman is suing a credit company, alleging it repossessed a motor vehicle using excessive force.
Stephanie J. Laurie filed a complaint March 20 in Houston Division of the Southern District of Texas against Collateral Recovery Team LLC, Daniel Bliss and Credit Acceptance Corporation, alleging assault and battery, violation of the Texas Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and violation of the Uniform Commercial Code.
The suit says Laurie purchased a vehicle from Auto Nations Inc. in Houston, on Aug. 20, 2016. The defendant, the lawsuit states, which was assigned the sale contract and security interest, said the plaintiff was behind on her loan and sent Collateral Recovery Team to repossess the plaintiff's vehicle on Jan. 18, 2019.
The plaintiff says she was forcefully told that her vehicle was being repossessed. When she objected, the suit says, Bliss, a large man who weighed more than 300 pounds, pushed Laurie out of the way. The lawsuit states Bliss forcefully took the key from Laurie and she was verbally abused.
Laurie's daughter called the plaintiff's fiance, the suit alleges, who arrived at the scene in a security guard uniform. Bills then allegedly called Laurie and her daughter derogatory terms.
Laurie seeks trial by jury, actual, statutory and exemplary damages, attorney fees and court costs, plus all other fit relief. The plaintiff is represented by attorney Alexander D. Trueblood of Trueblood Law Firm in Austin.
Houston Division of the Southern District of Texas case number 4:19-CV-01039