Hyundai Capital America has agreed to shell out over $330,000 to settle claims that it wrongfully seized cars from American heroes - our military servicemembers - federal prosecutors said yesterday. In an act to restore justice and uphold the protections afforded under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA), the giant auto lender will compensate 26 servicemembers whose rights were reportedly trampled when it repossessed their vehicles without securing the required court orders, as per the U.S. Attorney's Office, Central District of California.
Seemingly ignoring the stipulations of the SCRA, that demands a judicial nod before yanking away cars if a servicemember's made even one pre-service payment, Hyundai Capital America went ahead, and on at least one known occasion, repossessed a vehicle while its owner served our country. "Something as simple as a vehicle repossession can have a significant impact on a servicemember's peace of mind as he or she deploys in defense of the United States," U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada remarked, according to the Justice Department's website. The government's message was clear: Our servicemembers' peace of mind is paramount.
"Members of our Armed Forces should not have to worry about having their cars repossessed while they are in military service," Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke said, as stated by the U.S. Attorney's Office, Central District of California. Clarke emphasized the Justice Department's unwavering commitment to vigorously enforce the laws securing servicemembers' rights, so their focus remains unshaken on defending the nation.
The Justice Department's efforts to pursue these cases have, since 2011, secured significant sums - north of $481 million for more than 147,000 servicemembers, a testament to their uncompromising stance on enforcing the SCRA. Servicemembers or their dependents suspecting a breach of their SCRA rights can reach out to the nearest Armed Forces Legal Assistance Program Office, as guidance available at www.legalassistance.law.af.mil suggests. The settlement with Hyundai Capital America, a top captor in the auto-finance game, might serve as a stark reminder to similar institutions - the rights of our nation's defenders are not to be toyed with.
