Is it worth it to go to small claims court for this?

Yes. Judge Judy would make some funny jokes and find in your favor.

Also seek punitive damages and add mental distress to the lawsuit.

The towing agency will not give you a break. You would have to deal with the HOA.
The emails will help. Good luck.

Well, sure. It’s called the small claims court for something.

You’ll have to seek damages from the HOA. HOA’s cannot supersede city ordinances, so you may have a window of argument there.

You’re probably better off presenting your case to the HOA first and then if they don’t respond to your request for full reimbursement of all costs, then take them to court. Maybe check your HOA guidelines to determine where this is addressed.

Yes, the towing company just did what the HOA asked them to do. Talk to the HOA.
Small claims court is a huge hassle. You’re told to be there at 9 a.m. – and so are all the other people who are going to be seen that whole morning. So you wait. Then the plaintiff (the HOA) doesn’t show up because they know it’s a waste of their time. Judge Judy says you get the judgment, but then you have to collect, and that would be another hassle. Better to sit down with your own HOA which can understand you as easily as we can. Your case is very straightforward.

@susanc Thanks. I’m planning to present my case to the HOA as clearly as I can. The tow company has a fax from the HOA on Thursday asking for the car to be towed, so I am going to ask for a copy of this. I’m also going to hang onto any papers I get from the DMV when I get my license plates and the receipt from the towers. I’m planning to ask for a reimbursement over e-mail, and I will scan all these papers and add them to the e-mail as an attachment. That way I’ll have everything in writing.

My aunt has lived here for about 15 years, and from what she says the HOA is very difficult to deal with because they’re rude and unresponsive. They represent my neighborhood, which is all townhouses, and another part of the neighborhood which is all huge single family homes. Apparently our fees are 3 times higher than theirs because they have higher property taxes- but they own bigger houses, so it doesn’t seem right. My aunt and the neighbors have told me plenty of stories of problems they’ve had dealing with them. So I don’t feel too encouraged about just asking them, which is why I’m trying to document everything as much as possible. But now you say that taking them to court, even if I win, isn’t a guarantee I’ll get my money back… sigh. Thanks for your answer, because I do have no clue at all about small claims court.

Woah!

So I got a copy of the fax- the home owner’s association asked for the car to be towed on the Monday the 12th. The towers are actually bringing the car back.

First, vehicles parked on public property(the street)are in violation of the law, if they do not have a current license plate attached to it. private property enforcement is up to the landlord and what rules are in effect there.

Your question leaves me in doubt at this point. your days are misleading.

Is this situation worth small claims court? probably not. you knew the rules when you signed the contract to live there. no matter what was stated in emails, the written and signed contract will be the deciding factor in small claims court.

Maybe, if you had contacted the manager before the towing took place, at least he would known your situation and just may have co-operated with you.

How valuable is your time?
If that is not an issue, go for it. With the email you might win. The email is proof of good faith. What else could you do with it but put it on private property assigned to you?

It is NOT ur HOA to decide if ur car is expired or not. They know this is ur car. It was parked legally in ur spot causing no issue for HOA and u were nice enough to explain the happenings to them. They are a bunch of jacka$$es and if u had to take off work to do any of this, I woould make them pay my wages for that day. They are idiots. They better be glad it was NOT my car that was towed.