A segment from the Roggin Report has gained widespread attention after The Desert Sun picked up the story of Linda Paulding, a senior citizen who fell ill at a local juice shop and was later hospitalized—only to find out her car had been towed.
According to Paulding’s nephew, she was a regular customer at The Juice in Palm Springs. On the day of the incident, she felt unwell and was driven home by a friend. Days later, they discovered her vehicle had been towed. The towing company, Dave’s Towing, told The Sun that they followed legal protocol: “If the registered owner is incapacitated, they can designate with notarized documents and a power of attorney as an agent.”
The owners of The Juice, who have declined to speak with NBC Palm Springs directly, told The Sun that her illness was unrelated to their products. They stated the car was towed more than 24 hours after it was abandoned, and they had no idea who it belonged to at the time.
However, critics—including her nephew—say the situation could have been handled with more compassion, especially once the facts became clear. Legal expert Walter Clark joined NBC Palm Springs to weigh in.
“Everything may have been done legally,” said Clark, “but that doesn’t mean it was the right thing to do.” Clark noted that California has strong consumer protections when it comes to vehicle towing and that there are heavy fines and potential jail time for malicious intent. But in this case, he acknowledged the tow appeared to be lawful—just not necessarily equitable.
The incident has sparked a broader conversation about how seniors are treated in crisis situations. Clark suggested that the City of Palm Springs may have the flexibility to reduce the towing fees, given the unique circumstances.
“If I were a business owner and this happened to one of my regulars, I would’ve helped get the car back,” said Fred Roggin. “They didn’t have to call the tow company—and once they knew what happened, they could have stepped in.”
Whether or not any compromise will be reached remains unclear. For now, Paulding and her family are left with a hefty bill and more questions than answers.
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By: Fred Roggin
June 19, 2025
