Michigan Woman Loses Debt Case After Driving in Virtual Hearing

A Michigan woman faced a stern rebuke from a district court judge after joining a virtual hearing while driving her car and repeatedly denying it, leading to a default judgment against her in a debt collection case.

The incident occurred on Monday during a Zoom session in Woodhaven's 33rd District Court before Judge Michael K. McNally. Kimberly D. Carroll, the defendant, was late to the proceeding, which involved a claim by LVNV Funding LLC for approximately $1,788 in unpaid debt. Court staff initially entered a default judgment due to her absence, but Carroll joined shortly after as a participant labeled "iPhone." When she activated her camera, she appeared seated in a moving vehicle, with a seatbelt visible across her chest.

"You cannot be driving, ma'am. What are you doing? Come on," McNally said, according to video footage of the exchange. Carroll responded, "I'm not driving. I am a passenger in a car." The judge, who stated he does not conduct hearings with participants in vehicles, instructed her to pull over. Carroll explained she was traveling out of town for a family emergency and promised to have her driver stop the car.

McNally grew skeptical as he examined the video...