Smith v. AFS Acceptance, LLC

Rosalind Smith (plaintiff) borrowed money from AFS Acceptance, LLC (AFS) (defendant). The loan was secured by Smith’s vehicle. Smith failed to make loan payments, and AFS hired Equitable Services, Inc. (Equitable) (defendant) to repossess Smith’s vehicle. Smith parked in her mother’s driveway while visiting. Rashai Jackson (plaintiff), Smith’s daughter, was with Smith. During the visit, Equitable’s representatives began to hook the vehicle up to a tow truck. Jackson noticed this, and the family went outside to see what was happening. The representatives stated that they were repossessing the vehicle. Jackson got into the vehicle and left the door open. However, the representatives continued to proceed with the repossession and raised the vehicle. Smith began yelling for the representatives to stop while her daughter was in the car. The representatives did not stop, and Smith also got in the vehicle. The representatives continued the process and began to tow the vehicle onto the street. Meanwhile, other members of Smith’s family and neighbors yelled at the representatives to stop while the two women were in the vehicle with the door open. The police were called. The police told the representatives to stop towing the vehicle and to return the vehicle to the driveway. The representatives then complied. Smith and Jackson sued AFS and Equitable for: violating the repossession statute, violating the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), and intentional infliction of emotional distress. AFS and Equitable moved to dismiss the claims.