Thread: Missing-Persons Case Files to Be Auctioned Off

This was a lead story this morning on Phoenix local news.

http://www.insideselfstorage.com/hot...ase-files.html

Allstate Self Storage in North Phoenix plans to auction off more than 30,000 files filled with clients’ personal information from the National Center for Missing Adults, a delinquent tenant of the storage facility. The center’s CEO, Kym Pasqualini, owes the facility $3,800, and the facility managers refuse to turn over the files stored in the unit.

Today at 8 a.m., the unit’s contents were scheduled to go up for bid. Pasqualini says the files contain personal information from thousands of missing-persons cases, including Social Security numbers.

What are the legal ramifications here (paging Jeff Greenberger)? What would you do if you were in Allstate's shoes?

This is a tough call - on one hand the storage facility should get paid for their services, and on the other is the high probability of ID theft.

With so much publicity do you think the unit will even sell???

I personally would take the loss and tell them to come and take the stuff - use the publicity in your favor. The $3800 loss is better then the bad publicity they are going to get out of this deal.

now I'm crossing my fingers that we never have to deal with that kind of issue.
It doesn't sound like there's any easy way for the storage facility to actually get their money in this case. I think Autodoc may be on to something. In the light of good publicity, they should turn the items over to the proper authorities and get out while the gettin' is good!

That is probably one of the crazier things that I have ever heard!
How can that be legal? For what reason other than identity theft would anyone even want those documents? And imagine being a family member of one of those missing-persons, strangers seeing the details of their lives/SS #'s, etc. It's unbelievable and to boot located in the highest identity theft state. Where's their vehement Sheriff Arpaio in all of this? Strange.

I agree with all the other posters! The site should have had them come get the records and written off the loss of rent as a bad debt, or given it to the authorities. Maybe even work out a deal with law enforcement for a low rate or donated space until the files could be addressed properly?

And dare I say, before it reached that high of an amount, although you cancel a couple of auctions and I know delinquent rents can rise up pretty quickly.

The PR value/nightmare! All I can say is "WOW, why would you seek out negative PR?"

Add in the trauma to the families of the missing people and the potential misuse of the information contained... I would NOT AUCTION! Best to take other actions than to risk all of the legal ramifications of a public sale. Hopefully there were no bidders and there is a second chance to handle this properly. The negative PR is out there now though, and it will take quite a bit to offset that issue.

So, John -- any news if they sold the unit or not??

Hey all ... There is new information on this scenario. Kym Pasqualini submitted a new press release indicating a resolution has been found. You can read the updated story here:

Missing-Person Case Files Saved From Self-Storage Auction

Even thou this was settled, I still think Allstate handled it improperly and caused their own bad press.

On another thread, we have already established that our ondustry employs people with a sometimes less than high honesty quotient. Now, it appears that we also employ some really stupid managers. who in their right mind would have let this situation go as far as it did. glad that it was resolved, but, duh.

Especially considering a lot of the names in these files could have been people displaced by Katrina? Yikes.

It even looks like Allstate is going to get paid anyway, as another nonprofit out of Arkansas is stepping in on behalf of the NCMA to settle the debt.