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Seneca, MO, Body Shop Flattened by EF-1 Tornado, Sustains Most Damage Recorded in County The National Weather Service has confirmed an EF-1 tornado touched down in Newton County the night of May 17 just east of Seneca, MO, according to Felicia Lawrence report-
ing for fourstateshomepage.com. The tornado touched down at Highway 43, four miles south of Seneca at 12:51 AM. It tracked northeast until it lifted four miles west of Neosho at 1:01 AM. The tornado uprooted several trees, destroyed multiple outbuilding structures and blew off roofs on a few barns. Peak winds were estimated to be around 90 mph. Peak width was about 200 yards and total path of the tornado was 10.4 miles. Newton County officials See EF-1 Tornado, Page 41
Lawmakers Take on Michigan’s No Fault Insurance; Medical Providers in Opposition
See MI No Fault, Page 52
P.O. BOX 1516, CARLSBAD, CA 92018
Michigan drivers pay the most expensive car insurance premiums in the country due to their unlimited lifetime personal injury protection and the high number of uninsured vehicles on the road. But—for the third time in two years—state lawmakers are trying to revamp what they see as the culprit, Michigan’s no fault auto insurance system. The new legislation would cut premiums by $100 annually for two years. “We’re getting to the point where many of our consumers can’t afford our product,” Peter Kuhnmuench, execu-
tive director of the Insurance Institute of Michigan said during a committee hearing. “We have to try to be more efficient with the dollars we provide for no fault.” So, what is the catch? The reformed version of the bill could cause those who have been disastrously injured to lose out on some of the unique care that the no fault auto insurance provides, reported the Detroit Free Press. While the House Insurance Committee listened to three days of hearings during the week of April 22, hundreds of people, including those who have
Change Service Requested
by Victoria Antonelli, Online Editor
VOL. 4 ISSUE 9 JUNE 2015
Lead Lawyer for MDL Plaintiffs in FL Discusses New Developments, ‘Bellwether’ Proposal by Stacey Phillips, Assistant Editor
Autobody News recently spoke to John Eaves Jr. of Eaves Law Firm about the recent developments with the antitrust multidistrict litigation taking place in Florida, in which body shops across the country are alleging “steering” and other retaliatory practices by the nation’s top insurers. Eaves is the lead attorney for the plaintiffs on the case: A&E Auto Body, Inc., et al vs. 21st Century Centennial Insurance Company, et al. He said that during their regularly scheduled monthly hearing in May, Florida Magistrate Judge Thomas Smith suggested preparing a “bellwether” case to move the lawsuit along faster. Typically, in a bellwether trial the judge and parties select a representative sample from the parties involved to move the overall litigation toward a resolution.
The Jackson, Mississippi-based firm is currently preparing a motion to implement this type of trial. Eaves explained that this often happens in a mass torte case and will speed things up tremendously. After this is implemented, Eaves will continue to file cases brought on by body shops in additional states and a court date will be set. In the meantime, the firm has been collecting affidavits and specific information from body shops and former adjusters across the country to include as part of the injunction they are filing. “We’ve been getting additional details from the shops; those kinds of details that show the collaboration within the insurance industry in order to oppress the shops collectively,” said Eaves. “We are 90 percent prepared to file an injunction to stop the See New MDL Developments, Page 53
NOLA Shop Owner Indicted in Homicide
A NOLA body shop owner in eastern New Orleans was charged on May 15 by a state grand jury in the death of a man who was gunned down at his shop. Woodrow Woodrow Johnson Johnson, 39, of was indicted by 1407 Linden St., an Orleans Parish was accused of grand jury on May killing Joshua 15 for second-deJackson on Feb. gree murder in the 5. He was charged Feb. 5, shooting with second-dedeath of Joshua gree murder. Jackson, 29. Jackson, 29, Photo Credit: OPSO was shot multiple times at the business in the 7500 block of Chef Menteur Highway, reported Jonathan Bullington, NOLA.com. According to the police warrant, Johnson and Jackson had gotten into a confrontation at the shop
before the shooting. Jackson also sent Johnson a threatening message just before he was killed. After a detective identified him as the subject, Johnson surrendered to police the same day. Johnson’s attorney Cameron Mary said the incident was not a murder, reported Bullington. Police found a 9mm pistol in his home, which matched the 9mm shell casings that were found at the scene of the crime. Johnson had previously been released from the parish jail after posting a $200,000 bond, reported Bullington. On May 14, Criminal District Court Judge Arthur Hunter increased the bond to $1 million at Assistant District Attorney Abigail MacDonald’s request. This led to his rearrest. Second-degree murder carries a sentence of life in prison with no parole upon conviction, reported NOLA.com.
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