Loves impounded my trailer maliciously

No, I did not just drop my trailer there. My clutch started to break down 100 miles west of Nashville, so I pulled in to the Loves repair shop and asked them for a diagnosis. They responded they do not work on clutches, only fan clutches, but they did offer the advice to take the tractor to Freightliner in Nashville for repairs, but that I should not bring the trailer because of all the hills (the clutch could not handle it in its present condition). They said it was OK to have the trailer parked there until I get it fixed, their truck stop did not get full at night anyways during this time of year, they said. It was an Amazon trailer.

I followed their advice. The Freightliner agent (Velocity) took a look at it as soon as they could, we accepted the price and they started repairing it. If you know anything about Velocity, you probably know how slow (and of course expensive) they are. It ended up taking 6-8 weeks until they were completely finished.

Of course, I kept Loves updated about the progress, apologized and asked them if they wanted money for the parking, but they responded no. I even took an Uber all the 80 miles from Nashville so that I could talk to the Loves staff and apologize in person. Again they said they understand and said I would not have to pay anything.

The same day the truck was ready, I drove to Loves to pick up the trailer, and continue the haul. It was not there. When asking the managers, the lies began. Initially they pretended as they did not know what trailer it was, but I got a tip from another employee that the repair manager had it towed by the towing company across the street, that they are affiliated with. So now his friend at "I 40 towing" wanted $1600 for it, a totally arbitrary number.

I took a video of the entire truckstop and nowhere is there a sign regarding a parking policy limiting how long a visitor may park, or whether they may drop trailers. Of course they are in their full right to introduce any rule on their private land, but a rule that is not conveyed beforehand to visitors of private land, is not valid. Unless said land is posted with "no tresspassing" or "private land" or equivalent. This is a place of business.

If they did not allow the trailer anymore, why didnt they just call my number on my business card (that I had given them) and ask me to have it moved? I would have found a way to have someone do so. It was not like it was abandoned, not wanted anymore, and that anyone is free to take possession of it and its cargo. Everyone at Loves (at least on the management level) knew about me and the trailer and why it was there and that I was going to continue the haul to New Jersey as soon as the tractor was repaired.

And if they DID seriously think that the trailer was abandoned, Amazon has a sticker on all trailers saying that if someone thinks that the trailer in question is abandoned, they can call the number and Amazon will take care of it.

Therefore, this is a malicious impound. But their friends at I-40 towing did not want to hear any "legal mumbo jumbo".

Any ideas what my next step should be? I need some kind of lawyer, or other forms of muscle.