Clive Campbell, like many travelers, parked his car at Midlands Airport before boarding a flight over the Christmas holidays. When he returned a few days later, he was surprised to find that his car was missing.
His 2022 Nissan Pathfinder was parked at the Columbia Metropolitan Airport’s long-term parking facility and was repossessed by West Columbia Recovery & Towing Company on December 28, 2025, at the request of Navy Federal Credit Union.
question? The Pathfinder is fully paid and free of any liens, according to a certificate of title attached to Campbell’s lawsuit against the towing company and Navy Federal.
Campbell told The State in an email that the lawsuit, filed Tuesday, raises questions about whether the Columbia Metropolitan Airport Police Department routinely grants tow rights to private tow companies at airport parking facilities, whether that use is governed by a contractual relationship and whether lien status is verified before a passenger’s long-term parked vehicle is removed.
A spokesperson for the airport police said she would investigate the matter and contact the government.
Navy Federal declined to comment on the case.
When Campbell realized his car was missing, he contacted airport police, who confirmed the vehicle had been recovered. Campbell then contacted the towing company and provided a New York State Certificate of Title indicating that there were no liens recorded on the vehicle, the lawsuit states.
Despite the documentation, the towing company refused to release the vehicle to Campbell while continuing to charge storage fees, the lawsuit states.
Campbell was also subsequently prompted to file a temporary restraining order against the company and obtain a police report.
The report, which is attached as evidence to the lawsuit, shows the tow operation was initiated based on information purportedly provided by Navy Federal Credit Union; a law enforcement database check showed there were no active liens; documents reviewed appeared to indicate the liens had been satisfied and released; and the tow company still refused to release the vehicle, the lawsuit said.
Campbell’s request for a temporary restraining order remains pending, according to court records.
Meanwhile, when asked whether a towing company needs to confirm a valid lien before repossessing a car, a manager at the company told The State to “Call Navy Federal.”
They made the same suggestion to Campbell after he provided evidence that he owned the car free of charge.
The lawsuit alleges that the towing company “rather than contesting the absence of a lien or court order, instead directed (Campbell) to ‘call Navy Federal,’ which party had no enforceable interest.”
Campbell alleged that Navy Federal and Tow Co. were guilty of alterations, trespassing on personal property, civil conspiracy and unjust enrichment.
He has asked the court for compensatory and punitive damages and to order the towing company to release his vehicle without any towing and storage fees, the lawsuit states.