Television Interviews

https://www.appellate-brief.com

Susan Chana Lask represents a retired New York State judge and his wife against a moving company that extorted them, held their family’s heirlooms “hostage,” and broke pricey belongings.

Lask originally filed a Federal Lawsuit on December 24, 2020 and obtained a January 14, 2021 injunction directing the interstate movers to return Judge Spinner's property after they left a voicemail threatening to auction it off if he did not pay a cash ransom.

Lask will file a class-action lawsuit as she has been contacted by many other customers saying the same thing happened to them.

“We felt we were being held up for ransom,” said retired New York judge Jeffrey Spinner.

Last summer, Spinner agreed to pay New Era Relocation around $10,000 to move his wife’s furniture from North Carolina to New York. Months later, he says the company demanded around $6,000 more in cash to get their property back.

“Just like that,” said Spinner. “And they wanted it in cash.”

In a voicemail a man is heard saying he will “put your stuff up for auction.” Spinner says an employee from the company cursed at him when he refused to pay the extra money.

Some of the family’s heirlooms date back to the Holocaust, he said.

“We were sick,” Spinner told FOX 46 reporter Matt Grant. “These were items the family has treasured for many years.”

Lask got an injunction from a federal judge ordering the movers to turn over the property.

It was then discovered the property was still on the truck, secured only by a single Master Lock that was cut. The property was not in a climate-controlled warehouse that Spinner paid for, but rather in an unsecured lot in New Jersey, according to the lawsuit.

Photos show an antique grandfather clock smashed, a stained couch, and broken furniture.

“How did you feel when you saw your belongings in the state they were in?,” asked Grant.

“I was furious and my wife was equally enraged,” said Spinner. “My late father-in-law used to put on a pair of white cotton gloves when he would wind the grandfather clocks to make sure that nothing got dirty and nothing got damaged. And these people treated them as if they were little more than trash.”

“This is pure extortion,” said Lask. “And it’s a hostage situation.”

Lask estimates there could be “thousands” and accuses the company of operating under multiple names.

“We’re going to show that they’ve been doing this to people not just in North Carolina,” said Lask, “but nationwide.”

The Better Business Bureau says New Era Relocation has only been around for a year but already has 18 complaints and an “F” rating. The allegations aren’t surprising, he said.

“That’s their way of doing business,” said BBB of Southern Piedmont and Western North Carolina president Tom Bartholomy. “Unfortunately.”

New Era Relocation says it’s based in Smithfield. The address is actually a shipping store, according to Google Maps, and appears to be a P.O. Box. A phone number listed for the company has a Florida area code. FOX 46 left a message that was not returned Monday.

PROTECTING YOURSELF AND YOUR WALLET

In 2020, North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein’s office received 89 complaints against moving companies, including one against New Era.

If you’re moving, you should get and compare several written estimates before selecting a mover. Stein’s office says you should always get the mover’s Motor Carrier number or the North Carolina Utilities Commission Certificate number, make sure they are registered and insured, and see if they have any complaints.

When you select a mover, get a bill of lading, which all movers are required to provide, that spells out the terms and conditions. Interstate movers are required to provide a copy outlining the rights and responsibilities customers have.

The BBB says when you get an estimate make sure the price is “guaranteed.”

“Without that written into the contract,” said Bartholomy, “you’re dealing with a piece of paper and not anything behind it.”

The BBB recommends having movers come to your house to itemize everything. This way a company can’t later say there were more items than you told them about after everything is already packed on their truck.

The AG’s office gives additional advice for anyone hiring a moving company: https://ncdoj.gov/protecting-consumers/home-repair-and-products/moving/.

North Carolinians who have a complaint related to a moving company/contract, Stein urges you to file a complaint with his office at 1-877-5-NO-SCAM or https://ncdoj.gov/file-a-complaint/.