Wrongful Repossession Death Lawsuit Names Massive Credit Union Lender and Agents

“We do intend to pursue an outcome that will be crippling…”

Decatur, AL – December 12, 2023 – The Stephen Perkins’ families attorneys have filed a federal lawsuit against the City of Decatur and the involved officers over the police shooting of borrower, Stephen Perkins on September 29. Named in the wrongful death claims are one of the largest credit unions in the nation, the repossession agency and the two agents allegedly involved.

The Perkins families’ attorneys released their court filing to the local press which reports numerous claims against the defendants. Reported in the lawsuit are unfair debt collection claims. The lawsuit does not state the exact amounts they are seeking for compensatory, punitive damages, and lawyer fees. They are also seeking a jury trial.

Wrongful Repossession Death Lawsuit Names Massive Credit Union Lender and Agents — Stephen Perkins, 39

The Perkins’ family attorneys did not name a specific amount that they are seeking, but state; “There is no numerical amount that will do justice for the family,” Attorney Lee Merritt said. “We do intend to pursue an outcome that will be crippling to the City of Decatur.”

Named in the lawsuit are the Lender, Pentagon Federal Credit Union (PenFed), America’s second-largest federal credit union, serving over 2.9 million members worldwide with $35.4 billion in assets as of November 1, 2023, according to their website.

Allstar Recovery and the named repossessors involved, Caleb Combs and Richie Brady. The named police officers involved are, Bailey Marquette, Christopher Mukkadam, Joey Williams and Vance Summers. The Perkins family attorneys also alleges federal civil rights violations were committed by these defendants.

The Perkins family attorney’s lawsuit goes on to argue that the tow truck driver, identified as Caleb Combs, should have known he “lacked legal authority” to repossess Perkins’s truck. It contends

that after Perkins objected to Combs’ attempt to repossess the truck, Combs left.

Decatur Police were called, and the officers responded to the scene of the where the shooting later occurred. The lawsuit then claims that the four officers “entered into an agreement” with Combs and Richie Brady to return to Perkins’ home and repossess the truck.

The truck can be seen leaving the scene of the fatal shooting with the truck immediately following the shooting.

The attorneys claims include allegations that the City of Decatur violated Perkins’ civil rights claiming that Decatur maintains a policy and practice of rewarding officers who “engaged in more invasive citizen interactions” with better pay, promotions and assignments.

“The effect of Defendant City of Decatur, Alabama’s policy, practice, or custom, was to encourage their police officers to escalate officers’ use of force during citizen interactions,” the lawsuit states. “A further effect of this policy, procedure, or custom was to promote the use of excessive and unconstitutional force against citizens during arrests and other citizen interactions.”

Wrongful Repossession Death Lawsuit Names Massive Credit Union Lender and Agents The Perkins’ family attorneys did not name a specific amount that the family is seeking saying; “There is no numerical amount that will do justice for the family,” Attorney Lee Merritt said. “We do intend to pursue an outcome that will be crippling to the City of Decatur.”