Asheville, NC, September 18, 2025 News Summary Asheville, North Carolina has filed a lawsuit against ParkMobile, claiming the parking management company has slandered the city by providing false information about its connection to private parking lots. This misrepresentation has allegedly harmed the city’s reputation and led to confusion among customers. The North Carolina Court of Appeals recently declined to hear ParkMobile’s appeal, allowing the case to proceed. The outcome could set a precedent for slander cases involving local governments and highlight the tensions between private firms and municipalities. Asheville, North Carolina has initiated a lawsuit against ParkMobile, a parking management company, alleging that the firm has slandered the city by making false and misleading statements regarding its affiliations with private parking lots. The city claims that these misrepresentations have not only damaged its reputation but also misled parking customers and consumed valuable city resources. Earlier in 2024, a trial judge permitted the slander charge against ParkMobile to advance. Recently, on September 4, 2025, the North Carolina Court of Appeals chose not to hear ParkMobile’s appeal in this matter. ParkMobile’s legal team contends that the city’s complaint is inconsistent with decades of established slander jurisprudence, arguing that governmental entities do not have standing to claim slander against third parties. The complaint submitted by Asheville states that ParkMobile “knowingly and repeatedly misrepresented” the city’s relationships with private parking facilities, leading to confusion among customers and resulting in numerous complaints about towing and ticketing. Asheville originally filed the lawsuit in May 2024, alleging “deceptive representation” along with violations of multiple North Carolina statutes. The lawsuit includes accusations of slander “per se,” pertaining to false statements that are harmful by their very nature, and slander “per quod,” which refers to false statements that become harmful when placed within a broader context. Although Superior Court Judge Alan Thornburg dismissed the deceptive representation claim in January, he allowed the slander claims to continue towards trial. ParkMobile’s interlocutory appeal maintains that Asheville cannot sustain a slander action, citing First Amendment protections and historical court decisions which state that remarks made concerning government entities are “absolutely privileged.” Despite these assertions, Asheville’s assistant city attorney has declared in court filings that ParkMobile’s misinformation has negatively impacted the city’s reputation. The dismissal of ParkMobile’s appeal came without any explanation from a three-judge panel, and the company may choose to seek a review from the North Carolina Supreme Court, although such an intervention is not guaranteed. The ramifications of this case could establish important precedents for future slander cases involving local governments. The concerns arise primarily from customer confusion regarding the relationship between ParkMobile and the city, which led to numerous customers directing complaints about ParkMobile services to the city itself. This issue is compounded by ParkMobile’s alleged failure to address the inaccuracies despite previous chances to rectify the situation. The lawsuit underscores increasing apprehensions about the interactions between private firms and local government entities, particularly regarding possible reputational damages incurred through such relationships. Activists and advocates for First Amendment rights are closely monitoring the ongoing developments of the case due to its implications for free speech and governmental criticism. FAQs What is Asheville’s lawsuit against ParkMobile about? The lawsuit alleges that ParkMobile has slandered the city by making false defamatory statements about its affiliation with private parking lots. When was the complaint filed? Asheville filed the lawsuit against ParkMobile in May 2024. What types of slander are included in the lawsuit? The suit includes claims of slander “per se” and slander “per quod.” What was the outcome of ParkMobile’s recent appeal? The North Carolina Court of Appeals declined to take up ParkMobile’s appeal on September 4, 2025, dismissing it without explanation. What could be the potential implications of this case? The outcome of this case could set a precedent for future slander cases involving local governments. 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