Jefferson County Judge Steps Down From Ongoing Parking Enforcement Systems Lawsuit
Birmingham, AL – A sudden turn of events has occurred in the class action lawsuit against Birmingham towing company, Parking Enforcement Systems (PES), as Jefferson County Circuit Court Judge Pat Ballard voluntarily steps away from the case. The announcement came earlier this month, stating that Ballard is recusing himself in alignment with Canon 2 of the Alabama Canons of Judicial Ethics.
Details of the Recusal
In compliance with the stipulations of Canon 2, Ballard has given a clear directive appointing another judge to take over the case. As per recent court documents, Jefferson County Circuit Court Judge Tamara Harris Johnson had been reassigned to the case on June 17. “The undersigned hereby recuses himself from this case in compliance with Canon 2 of the Alabama Canons of Judicial Ethics and hereby orders and directs the Circuit Clerk to reassign this matter to another Judge, in accord with all applicable rules,” reads the formal court document from Ballard.
Towing Troubles
Parking Enforcement Systems has been under legal scrutiny following a class-action lawsuit filed against them. They have been accused of numerous instances of illegal towing from downtown Birmingham car parks, which has caused significant inconveniences for drivers. In response to the lawsuit, the City has recently increased the number of tow-warning signs in downtown areas.
A Glimmer of Hope
Birmingham drivers have now a little something to look forward to, as a local company is serving downtown areas with pickup services. This move aims to prevent drivers from falling prey to unlawful towing instances.
Protecting Oneself Against Predatory Towing
As these issues revolving around towing operations in the city continue, it’s crucial for Birmingham residents to know how to protect themselves against such practices. Among these measures are understanding your rights as a car owner, always checking for proper tow signage before parking your car, documenting all interactions in case a dispute arises, and, finally, knowing the right authorities to report any illegal towings to.
The towing lawsuit has put proverbial brakes on the activities of notorious companies, paving the way for an evolution in parking regulation enforcement. Changes have started in Birmingham, and users can only hope that they continue for the foreseeable future.
