Overview
- Kimberly Carroll, sued by debt buyer LVNV Funding, joined late to a 33rd District Court Zoom hearing Monday after a default had been declared, appearing on camera in a moving car.
- Judge Michael K. McNally questioned whether she was behind the wheel, pointed to her left‑side seatbelt and position in the vehicle, demanded to see the driver, and said he believed she was lying.
- McNally entered a default judgment for $1,921.85 and directed staff to note in the record that she appeared to be driving while denying it.
- Video of the hearing spread across local and national outlets, and on Thursday Carroll issued a statement taking responsibility and calling her decision to appear from a car poor judgment.
- Michigan courts allow Zoom appearances case by case, but missing the call time often leads to default in routine consumer debt suits like LVNV’s, and judges apply the same safety and honesty expectations online as in open court.