- A California couple’s trip suddenly drew police guns and flashing lights.
- A lawsuit soon followed, revealing gaps in rental company protocols.
- The emotional fallout lingered long after the legal fight was over.
Sometimes an ordinary errand can spiral into something far beyond expectation. For one California couple, what began as a simple family visit with a rental car turned into an ordeal involving drawn guns, handcuffs, and a legal fight that dragged on for more than a year.
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The couple has agreed to a $350,000 settlement with a rental car company after they were handcuffed and arrested by police officers in early 2023 because the minivan they’d rented had been reported stolen.
On January 29, 2023, Sheena and Cole Burie were in San Diego visiting family when officers surrounded them with weapons drawn. They had rented the van from Payless Car Rental, completely unaware that its record listed it as stolen.
What Went Wrong?
After the couple’s arrest, Oceanside police contacted Payless and learned that the company had reported the same minivan stolen on January 4.
It had been returned a few days later, but the key step was missed: Payless never informed the police, so the vehicle remained active in the Stolen Vehicle System.
The Buries later sued Payless Car Rental for negligence and emotional distress. After months of legal wrangling, the case finally reached trial on October 7.
According to NBC 7, the two sides presented their opening statements, then, in an unexpected turn, reached a settlement during a 15-minute recess. The agreement ended the trial almost as abruptly as it began.
The Long Term Effects
Sheena Burie has since claimed the experience left deep emotional scars and contributed to the breakdown of their marriage.
“My emotional state, it was just unhinged,” she said. “And Cole didn’t know how to deal with it, he sort of shut down, we just never could come together and have any sort of agreement in any way. So it led to our separation and long, drawn-out divorce.”
Payless Car Rental issued an apology to the couple and refunded them for the cost of the original rental.
“Payless and its independent franchises each have safeguards in place to prevent unnecessary notifications to retrieve rental vehicles,” it said. “Unfortunately, these protocols in this isolated incident failed. Our franchisee has apologized to Mr. and Mrs. Burie and refunded them for the rental.”
This case is yet another cautionary tale for both companies and customers about what can happen when systems fail to communicate.
