Across Town Movers, SCRA Violations, California 2023
Storage Company Faces Federal Lawsuit for Unlawfully Selling Service Members' Belongings
A San Diego-based storage company, Across Town Movers, is being sued by the federal government for allegedly violating the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) by selling personal belongings of service members without obtaining the necessary court orders.
The lawsuit, filed in the Southern District of California, claims that the company, owned by Daniel E. Homan, sold the personal property of 11 service members without a court order between 2011 and the present. The complaint alleges that after selling one of the service members' property, the company continued to receive payments from the U.S. government for storage of the sold property.
One of the service members affected by the company's actions is U.S. Navy Master Chief Petty Officer Thomas E. Ward, a 30-year veteran who was deployed overseas in 2006. Ward placed his valuable car parts and household items in storage with Across Town Movers, only to discover that the company had auctioned off all of his belongings just before he returned home.
“Federal law does not allow storage companies to sell the contents of a service member’s storage lot without a court order,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Vanita Gupta. “Storage companies should check the Defense Department’s military database and other resources before conducting any auction to see if the customer is protected by the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act.”
The lawsuit seeks damages for the value of the auctioned goods, as well as civil monetary penalties of up to $55,000 for the first offense and $110,000 for each subsequent offense. The Department of Justice will also seek injunctive relief to prevent further violations of the SCRA.
Service members and their dependents who believe their SCRA rights have been violated can contact the nearest Armed Forces Legal Assistance Program office for assistance.
Defendant: Daniel E. Homan and Horoy Inc., doing business as Across Town Movers, a San Diego, California, storage company.
Criminal Charges: Violation of the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA).
City and State: San Diego, California.
Exact Date: The lawsuit was filed on [Current Date] in the Southern District of California.
Sentence or Outcome: The case is currently pending.
Dollar Amounts: Up to $55,000 for the first offense and $110,000 for each subsequent offense.
Key Facts
- State: California
- Category: White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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