A recent legal filing alleges that a luxury vehicle purchaser lost possession of her new car when it was released by a dealership to an unauthorized third party, resulting in the car being held for ransom. The complaint was filed by Sheila Denise Springer in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey on March 16, 2026, naming Bentley Edison, Noll Brothers Inc., and unidentified parties as defendants.
According to the complaint, Springer purchased a 2025 blue sapphire Bentley Bentayga from Bentley Edison in Edison, New Jersey on June 24, 2025. As part of the transaction, Bentley Edison was responsible for ensuring proper delivery of the vehicle to Springer or her authorized agent. Springer arranged for ATI Container Services in Miami, Florida to transport the car from the dealership to her residence in Weston, Florida.
The complaint states that delivery was scheduled for July 17, 2025. However, on July 14, 2025, Noll Brothers Inc., a third-party towing service with no contractual relationship with Springer, picked up the Bentley without authorization or legitimate paperwork. The document alleges that Patrick Dunn, manager at Bentley Edison, negligently released the vehicle into Noll Brothers’ custody without properly verifying their authorization or examining necessary documentation.
As detailed in the filing, this action resulted in the Bentley being delivered not to Springer’s home but instead to an address at 6133 Fieldson Road in Bronx, New York—a location unknown to her. Shortly after this misdelivery, Springer received text messages from a computer-generated phone number demanding $250,000 in cash and $20,000 in cryptocurrency as ransom for return of her vehicle. A subsequent message increased the cryptocurrency demand by another $10,000.
The complaint further alleges that ATI Container Services failed to safeguard its transportation dispatch systems against cyberattacks. It claims hackers compromised ATI’s Central Dispatch system and redirected transportation information fraudulently. According to Springer’s allegations, ATI did not timely notify Noll Brothers about this compromise or provide accurate information regarding transportation assignments.
Noll Brothers is described as having exercised reasonable care but being unknowingly engaged through fraudulent actors due to ATI’s alleged failures. The complaint states that Noll Brothers would not have accepted or performed these services if ATI had properly secured its systems and communicated material information about potential fraud.
After learning her car had been misdelivered and held for ransom, Springer contacted law enforcement including Detective Greges of the Bronx’s 50th precinct but was told she needed to file a report in person. She traveled at personal expense from Florida to New York where she waited four hours at the delivery address before police arrived. She obtained camera footage showing Noll Brothers delivering her Bentley there and later provided this evidence during questioning by Detective Perdomo at a local police station.
Springer also contacted Sergeant McGrotty and Detective Spielman in Edison who provided her with an invoice from Noll Brothers Inc. and photographs confirming delivery of her vehicle at the Bronx address. As of March 16, 2026—the date of filing—her Bentley remained unrecovered with ongoing ransom demands totaling $250,000 cash plus $30,000 in cryptocurrency.
The lawsuit asserts two main causes of action: negligence against all defendants and breach of contract specifically against Bentley Edison. Under both claims Springer alleges substantial economic losses including loss of her luxury vehicle valued at approximately $223,000 or more; travel expenses; emotional distress; and other consequential damages yet to be determined at trial.
In support of these claims under New York law (as cited), Springer argues that Bentley Edison owed her a duty of reasonable care regarding custody and release of her property but breached this duty by releasing it without proper verification. She also contends that their contract required safe handling until authorized delivery—a responsibility she says was violated when the dealership failed to ensure only authorized agents could take possession.
Springer requests compensatory damages not less than $223,000 for loss of property; consequential damages such as travel costs; pre-judgment and post-judgment interest; attorneys’ fees; costs; and any further relief deemed appropriate by the court. She has demanded a jury trial on all triable issues related to these events.
The case is represented by attorney Michael DiBenedetto of Aidala Bertuna & Kamins P.C., located at 546 Fifth Avenue in New York City (Case No.: 2:26-cv-02652).
Source: 226cv02652_Springer_v_Edison_Complaint_District_New_Jersey.pdf
