The city turned a blind eye for years while a Queen’s tow company monopolized services on many Big Apple highways and ripped off thousands of drivers in the process, a bombshell new lawsuit alleges.
The class-action suit, filed Saturday in Manhattan Supreme Court, seeks more than $58 million in damages for the duped motorists from the NYPD, the city Department of Consumer and Worker Protection and Runway Towing Corp. It alleges city officials let the company run an illegal “racketeering enterprise” at the expense of unsuspecting motorists.
The suit also accuses the NYPD of repeatedly extending Runway’s contract since 2013 without competitive bidding and, in the process, ignoring many complaints the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection was getting about the company’s alleged lawbreaking, which included underpaying workers and illegally compensating them with cash off the books.
The two city agencies “conspired … to allow Runway to operate … even though at least six years ago motorists were telling them that Runway is overcharging consumers,” said lawyer Gary Rosen, who represents Runway customers and ex-staffers in the lawsuit.
The suit claims Runway has earned more than $200 million since 2010 off its NYPD contract to provide roadside assistance and towing services on the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway; Kosciusko Bridge; the Cross Island Parkway in Queens; sections of the Belt Parkway in Brooklyn and Queens; Brooklyn’s Gowanus Expressway and Prospect Expressway; and the Staten Island Expressway, West Shore Expressway, Korean War Veterans Parkway and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Expressway on Staten Island.
It also alleges the company relies on shady practices to drive up its profits, including instructing tow operators to bring vehicles they pick up to the company’s office in Ozone Park — no matter where they break down.
It’s a move that generates hundreds, and sometimes thousands, of extra dollars in unnecessary towing and storage costs for the public per vehicle, former Runway workers and customers told The Post.
Mary Olsen, 62, said she had no choice but to give away her 2000 Nissan Altima to Runway after it was rear-ended and totaled on the Staten Island Expressway two years back. She said a Runway tow truck brought the car to the Ozone Park storage facility more than 20 miles away without her consent — and without providing a cheaper option, such as towing it to a parking space off the nearest exit or a nearby auto body shop.
20 comments:
Well, who’d have thought? Cops are more crooked than the so called criminals? And liberals are letting them roam free, to stare at their phones all day long?
I’m glad I moved away and live in the great mosquito infested swamp of Florida.
At least we have a genuine fascist Governor !
Ain't capitalism wonderful. At least the right wing nuts will be happy that the workers were underpaid. Next to dirty water and air, nothing makes a right wing nut happier than workers being exploited by corporate crooks.
We live in a banana republic. It happened slowly. We were too busy on Facebook or tic tock. Or Twitter to realize. The indoctrination of our youth over the last 15 years is part of the plan. This was all planned by the way. The government speaks and the mush minded people say yes master. We are doomed because this next generation won’t be fighting for rights as previous generations did. We got soft and are going to be paying for it. Keep voting Democrat and this will be Cuba soon.
What a great DEMORAT city! VOTE FOR HOCHUL AND KEEP THE MAGIC GOING!
This will be forgotten and replaced by another outrage tonight or tomorrow.
Prove Me Right...
Sheeple Bow down to your oompah Loompa masters.
Giving Chicago & San Francisco a run now for America’s worst City.
Not to mention the fact that this is theft, extortion, etc.
Also makes NYPD look very bad.
Not the officers, but the top honchos.
Corruption - all of us pay the price.
Thankfully I moved to the great state of Nebraska. At least now I can watch the grass grow every day.
Class action lawsuit? Lawyers get rich, you'll get a coupon for an oil change.
1776 said...
The rest of Merica better wake up, this is whats coming if you vote for demoRats.
Sheeple are tired of Dems and it's got them seeing RED!
"nothing makes a right wing nut happier than workers being exploited by corporate crooks"
This was a city government contract, dum dum. Because governments don't care about what money they spend because they have zero responsibility. And they don't care the least about oversight of how the contract gets delivered. If this tow truck company was exploiting a corporation in the same way, it would get detected and shut down quickly. But sure, pretend its only the "corporate crooks" at fault here.
From the article: "which included underpaying workers and illegally compensating them with cash off the books"
Yeah, but cash off the books works in the workers favor. So were they really "underpaying" them, or just giving them less because there were no taxes involved?
"Well, who’d have thought? Cops are more crooked than the so called criminals? And liberals are letting them roam free, to stare at their phones all day long?" Comment: Very true, the blue don't back you.
Enough of this city!
I'm packing my bags and moving to the great state of Mississippi. The governor has the right attitude, and the drinking water is dirty enough for a QAnon Drone.
@Ain't capitalism wonderful. At least the right wing nuts will be happy that the workers were underpaid. Next to dirty water and air, nothing makes a right wing nut happier than workers being exploited by corporate crooks.
Says the TA commie racist pig nutjob, who likes his e-bike batteries produced by little kids in Africa, not to mention the pollution from the fossil fuels used to mine the lithium.
@I’m glad I moved away and live in the great mosquito infested swamp of Florida.
At least we have a genuine fascist Governor !
So you'll be flying soon to Martha's Vineyard on DeSantis Air to celebrate with your fellow Communist nutjobs and help the migrants?
Be careful in the swamp, lots of alligators.
Maybe one will marry you.
In other news, at the latest Globalist (Communist) jamboree
A collective of globalist confabs are all kicking off in New York City this week, featuring the who’s who of globalist leaders, policy makers, advocates, and allies.
The most high-profile and visible of these events is the 77th United Nations General Assembly from September 19-27, which had not convened an in-person session in two years.
Joe Biden, Ukrainian President Voldoymyr Zelensky, French President Emmnauel Macron, British Prime Minister Liz Truss, and Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi are among the heads of state expected to deliver remarks throughout the week.
115 financial, government, advocacy, and non-governmental organizations will also attend as observers.
Meanwhile, the Clinton Global Initiative is also holding a summit in New York City hosted by Bill, Hillary and Chelsea Clinton from Sept. 19-20, for the first time in 6 years.
The event claims it “convenes, connects, and catalyzes global and emerging leaders to create and implement solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges.”
“Through its unique model, CGI supports partners in developing Commitments to Action — new, specific, and measurable actions within climate resilience, health equity, and inclusive economic recovery and growth,” the CGI website states.
“This September, CGI will convene alongside the United Nations General Assembly for the first time since 2016. During this meeting, more than 1,000 attendees will come together to drive action and elevate solutions.”
Notable speakers at the Clinton event include familiar names like Melinda Gates, actor Matt Damon, BlackRock CEO Larry Fink, NYC Mayor Eric Adams, NY Gov. Kathy Hochul, California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker, World Health Organization Director Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Cindy McCain, and CNN host Fareed Zakaria.
Biden regime officials are also slated to speak, including Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, WH Economic Adviser Brian Deese, Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm, Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, and Labor Secretary Marty Walsh.
It been a nation wide racket for a long time. Even worse along the little towns along the nations highways. Dont breakdown on the Jersey turnpike or Hutch, the racket is worse then this (any state road)
Most drivers get too upset, don't think right and trust the cops to do the right thing but NO the cops are not in your best interest.
Worse case they are only required to clear the obstruction NOT take you car for a ride.
If you have a AAA membership card the cops dont have to force you to use these mother f_cker vulture criminals for help.
Once they hook your car, even for a simple problem your not getting it back for under $1500.
I have 4 older classic vehicles, if something goes wrong I can usually fix them with flashlight, screwdriver, test meter, simple tools roadside. But just in case, especially these new shit cars with all the ECUs, relays and sensors
Purchase the annual AAA Deluxe towing (gold card) package for around $100 a year. If you in an accident or breakdown, call and they will give you a ride + tow your car home or a shop, local mechanic of YOUR CHOICE.
-Joe
Great headline choice, JQ or Crappy or whoever came up with it.
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