By Cornelius Nunev


A woman is suing the town of Chicago due to a $105,000-plus parking ticket bill accrued by her $600 Junker vehicle. The citations, gathered over three years, add up to the largest such bill ever served by the town. However, there are reasons why she may have a very good case.

Who really owns the car?

The car, a 1978 Chevy Monte Carlo, was purchased for $600 in 1999, and is owned by 31-year-old Jennifer Fitzgerald, an unemployed single mother from Chicago. Or is it? Even the ownership of the automobile is fuzzy in this convoluted sequence of events.

Fitzgerald's ex-boyfriend Brandon Preveau purchased the car from his uncle, but for whatever reason, listed it in Fitzgerald's name. Preveau used the car to get to and from his job for United Airlines at O'Hare Airport. Fitzgerald's legal complaint said: "On or before Nov 17, 2009, Brandon drove the Automobile into the Parking Lot and never drove it out again." Fitzgerald said she did not know Preveau's reason behind abandoning the automobile.

First ticket years ago

The car was supposed to be towed again and again but was never done. In May 2009, the vehicle got its first ticket. The vehicle was then cited for having expired plates, broken windows, now having a town sticker, having damaged headlights and for being abandoned over 30 days. It still was not towed regardless of everything.

The car owes over $65,000 now after collecting 678 citations.

Fitzgerald's reaction

But Fitzgerald said she had no idea that Preveau had listed the car in her name, and so the bill is truly his. The town is taking a hard line on the matter, however, insisting she pay the complete bill. However, the unemployed Fitzgerald is not able to get a loan for a car, much less pay more than $100,000 in tickets.

Fitzgerald said that the tickets would have never occurred if the vehicle was towed after 30 days as it should have been. This is why she filed the complaint against the Town of Chicago, Preveau and United Airlines for leasing the parking lot from the city.

It will be 2013 before the case goes to a judge.




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