Jackson Jambalaya

Well, what do you know.  There are more lawsuits accusing The Vault and its owner, J.D. "Jerry" Pass, of selling classic cars on consignment and pocketing the money instead of paying the owners. 

 

Mr. Pass sells cars through his companies Sonicbidder.com and TheVaultMs.com.  Touting himself as a larger than life character, Mr. Pass collects and sells classic cars.     

Hallgrimur Petur Svansson sued Mr. Pass, Sonicbidder.com, and Thevaultms.com on November 25, 2024 in Hinds County Circuit Court. 

Mr. Svansson had a nice little collection of cars:  1969 Dodge Charger, 2023 Dodge Challenger Black Ghost Edition, and a 2021 Dodge Challenger Drag Pak. 

The complaint claims Mr. Pass agreed to sell the vehicles through auction on consignment.  In what is now a familiar story, Mr. Pass sold the vehicles but allegedly kept the money.  The plaintiff recorded telephone conversations where Mr. Pass admitted he sold them and "repeatedly assured" Mr. Svansson payment would be made by specific deadlines but he failed to make a single payment. 

Mr.  Pass sold the 1969 Dodge Charger for $95,000, the 2021 Drag Pak for $125,000, and the 2023 Dodge Challenger Black Ghost for $145,000 yet refused repeated demands for payment: 

20. Mr. Svansson repeatedly demanded his money. Defendants' own production contains his text messages to Defendants' employee, Shana Krapovicky, including "I need an update today," "I need answers today," "Ok when can we have a conversation about my money?," and a September 17, 2024 written demand for payment of the Drag Pak proceeds of $125,000 by September 20, 2024 and for the Charger proceeds, warning that "legal action starts on 9/23/24." (Ex. F, DEFS 000015-000022.) Ms. Krapovicky replied that she was "still t1ying to get in touch with [JD] and get this all worked out for you."

21. Defendants have produced no document evidencing any payment to Mr. Svansson, any authorization by Mr. Svansson to retain the proceeds, any consent or ratification by Mr. Svansson, any debt owed by Mr. Svansson, or any fact suppmiing any affirmative defense. Defendants' responses to Plaintiffs Second Requests for Production, served April 20, 2026 and targeted at exactly those documents, state only that the documents "are being produced to the extent they exist." No such documents have been produced.

The complaint charges Jerry Pass and his companies with breach of contract, unjust enrichment,  conversion, and fraud.  

Mr. Pass did not respond to the complaint so the plaintiff filed a motion for default judgement in April 2025.  However, the defendants filed a motion to set aside the motion a month later.  Mr. Pass finally filed an answer to the complaint in June 2025.  The plaintiff filed a motion to compel as the two sides slogged through discovery.  

Tired of it all, Mr. Svansson filed a motion for summary judgement October 20. The motion claims the defendants owe the plaintiff $312,889 (The earlier amount probably includes the commission.).    The defendants admitted in their answer they agreed to sell the vehicles in question.  

Oddly enough, two of the vehicles are still listed on The Vault's website. 

Mr. Svansson alleges the following transactions took place: 

* Drag Pack sold to Jeffrey Frank in January 2024 for $136,500.  Payment was wired into Mr. Pass's Origin Bank Account in February 2024.  

* The VaultMS.com sold the Charger at auction in April 2024 for $95,000, less auction fees of $92,000. GAA Classic Cars paid the defendant $92,000 by check that same month.  

* The defendants sold the Black Ghost for $130,000.  

Thus, the plaintiff claims the defendants have paid nothing despite owing $312,882.  

Attorney Michael Heilman represents the defendants.  Attorneys Joseph Tatum and Davis Hassim represent the plaintiff.  The case is assigned to Hinds County Circuit Judge Winston Kidd. 

Kingfish note: Add this lawsuit to the stack of lawsuits all claiming the same thing . 

* Michael Cooper of Atlanta sued The Vault and Pass in U.S. District Court on May 4.  The Vault was supposed to sell Cooper's 1953 Chevrolet 3100 Deluxe truck on consignment.  The lawsuit alleges Pass instead sold the vehicle and put the money from the sale in his pocket.  He offered a partial payment later when challenged by Cooper. Earlier post.

* Sheila Jenkins sued the defendants in 2024. The Vault was supposed to sell three cars for her, including a 1957 Ford Thunderbird. The Vault allegedly sold the cars without her consent and kept the money. The case is pending in Hinds County Circuit Court. Earlier post.

* Susan Vukovich sued Pass and The Vault in Rankin County Circuit Court in February.  The complaint states The Vault consigned to sell five Corvettes (1963-1967).  The defendants allegedly sold the cars and pocketed the money from the sales.  The case is pending. Earlier post.

* Jo Ann Bailey sued The Vault and Pass in Hinds County Circuit Court in April.  Bailey contracted with the defendants to sell her late husband's car collection.  The collection included Ferraris, Corvettes, and Lamborghinis. The complaint accuses the defendants of either selling the cars and keeping the sales proceeds or keeping the cars without returning them to Bailey.  The case is pending. 

* Timothy and Michele Fant, owners of Taste Italian Kitchen, sued Pass in Rankin County Circuit Court in June.  The Fants loaned Pass $1 million a year ago. Earlier post .