Dennis Herrera's already moving to reward the 98% of San Franciscans who reelected him city attorney (not you, SFist Jackson!) by announcing that he's extracted $5.7 million in settlement for the City against possibly the most-hated city contractor in history. That's right, the city's getting $5.7 million out of City Tow!

City Tow will not be admitting responsibility for any wrongdoing (typical), but the settlement will resolve a three-year-old case where the city and the state had alleged that City Tow was systematically underreporting the amount of money it was making by selling towed or abandoned cars and stiffing the governments. As State AG Bill Lockyer says, "The only thing more aggravating than finding your car towed is learning that the towing company is ripping you off in the process." Sure!

Last year, City Tow previously settled about $400,000 of claims that they charged illegal "storage" fees for the privilege of depriving you of your car. Check out some of these other horror stories too.

City Tow was fired by SF in 2003. Your cars are now towed within city limits by AutoReturn.