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Tag Archives: steering
State Farm Moves to Dismiss Steering Lawsuit
State Farm, a defendant in a lawsuit before the U.S. District Court of Maryland, filed a motion last week to dismiss Total Recon Auto Center’s (Total Recon) complaint against it. Total Recon, a collision center in Rockville, Md., provides services … Continue reading
Posted in glassBYTEs Headlines, glassBYTEs Original Story Tagged Bell Atlantic v. Twombly, compensatory damages, defamation per se, direct repair programs, Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, lawsuit, motion to dismiss, out-of-pocket expenses, punitive damages, referral programs, Rule 9(b), State Farm, steering, TACC certified, Tesla, Tesla Labor Rate, tortious interference, Total Recon Auto Center’s, U.S. District Court of Maryland Leave a comment
Proposed Anti-Steering Amendment Clears Indiana State Senate
An Indiana bill designed to prohibit insurers and related entities from requiring an insured to use a specified auto repair shop has cleared the state Senate and is currently waiting to be heard in the House of Representatives. SB 164, … Continue reading
Posted in glassBYTEs Original Story Tagged auto glass, auto insurance, auto repair, insurer, steering Leave a comment
New York Gov. Signs Legislation to Exempt Auto Glass from Anti-Steering Measures
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has signed a controversial bill that exempts auto glass claims from anti-steering legislation. The bill was introduced in January 2017 by Assemblyman William B. Magnarelli. The legislation amends the state’s insurance law to require disclosing … Continue reading
Posted in glassBYTEs Original Story Tagged law, legislation, New York Assembly, New York legislature, steering 3 Comments
New York Bill Aims to Prevent Steering
A bill introduced in New York this week (NY A 8111) would amend the Insurance Law concerning windshield repairs and replacement. The proposed legislation “prohibits automotive insurance companies or their agent from requiring or suggesting their insured utilize a specific … Continue reading
Expert Panel Offers Insight into Arbitration, Appraisals and Anti-Steering
Several panelists led a workshop during Auto Glass Week™ that took attendees through practical steps that companies have had success with such as arbitration, appraisals and anti-steering strategies. “We want to help glass companies through issues they deal with and … Continue reading
Posted in glassBYTEs Original Story Tagged appraisals, arbitration, Auto Glass Week, Chuck Lloyd, steering Leave a comment
U.S. District Court Judge Dismisses Antitrust Cases
A U.S. District Court judge in the Middle District of Florida, Orlando division, has upheld the report of a magistrate judge who recommended many of the antitrust complaints by collision repair companies throughout the country against dozens of insurers be dismissed. However, he gave leave for attorneys to file amended complaints. Collision repair shops from 12 Federal District Courts had alleged “steering and price fixing” by dozens of insurers. The cases are consolidated before a Florida U.S. District Court judge. Continue reading
Florida Judge Wants More Evidence to Support Allegations Against Insurers
A U.S. District judge in Florida has dismissed much of the antitrust lawsuit filed by group of Florida collision repair shops against State Farm and dozens of other insurers without prejudice, meaning attorneys for the repair shops can file an amended complaint. The shops allege the insurers use their direct repair programs to “illegally control and depress” repair rates and if the shops don’t comply, customers are steered away. The judge says more “evidence” is needed to support the allegations. Continue reading
Posted in glassBYTEs Original Story Tagged AGRR, antitrust lawsuit, Collision repair shops, Florida, glassBYTEs.com, State Farm, steering Leave a comment
Glass Industry Launches Petition Against “Steering”
Nearly 100 automotive glass company owners, technicians and vendors have signed a petition called “Auto Glass Industry National Right to Fair Trade Petition” at ThePetitionSite.com. The goal of the Care2 Petition is to “restore free and fair trade to the auto glass industry so that that consumers will have the freedom of choice when it comes to what repair shop works on their vehicles and so that the business agreements between consumers and their chosen repair shops are not interfered with improperly and unduly,” according to the website. Continue reading
How Did We Get the Anti-Steering Law Passed?
In a panel reviewing legal issues in the automotive glass industry, Jim Amman, former Connecticut Speaker of the House; Mario Ercolini, general manager of branch operations for Wholesale Glass Distributors; and Mark Vece, president of The Whalley Glass Co., discussed … Continue reading
Louisiana Attorney General Files “Steering” Lawsuit Against State Farm
Louisiana Attorney General Buddy Caldwell filed a lawsuit today against State Farm in East Baton Rouge Parish judicial court alleging the insurer has “engaged in a pattern of unfair and fraudulent business practices aimed at controlling the auto repair industry” and uses “scare tactics to steer Louisiana consumers to State Farm’s preferred repair shops.” Similar allegations have surfaced over the years from independent automotive glass repair shops in regards to third-party administrators (TPAs), which handle automotive glass claims for insurers, so this case has potential implications for the AGRR industry. Continue reading
Repair Shops Ask the Judicial Panel for Multidistrict Litigation to Consolidate Lawsuits Against Insurers
Collision repair shops in at least five states have now filed lawsuits against dozens of insurers, alleging the insurers use their direct repair programs to “illegally control and depress” repair rates and if the shops don’t comply, customers are steered away. They have asked the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation to approve their petition to consolidate the cases into one court. Continue reading
State Farm Denies Allegations in Florida Repair Shops’ Antitrust Lawsuit
State Farm’s attorneys deny the company has violated antitrust laws in their court response to a group of Florida collision shops which filed a lawsuit alleging State Farm (and dozens of other insurers) use a direct repair program to “illegally control and depress” repair rates and if the shops don’t comply, customers are steered away. This case has potential implications for the AGRR industry, as independent automotive glass repair shops allege similar issues with third-party administrators (TPAs), which handle automotive glass claims for insurers. Continue reading