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NACE | CARS Announces Detroit Destination & Technical Tours for July 22–25, 2015 NACE | CARS announced details for the destination tours in Detroit for 2015. These tours have been organized to provide attendees with the opportunity to visit some of Detroit’s historical venues, as well as gain firsthand insight into the original automotive plants through both docent guided and self-guided tours. The tours will take place throughout the week during NACE | CARS. Interested parties must pre-register through the NACE | CARS registration process. All are available, with limited capacity. Charter buses will be provided from the COBO Center to
take attendees to and from the tours.
NACE | CARS Destination Tours feature nine unique oppotunities in 2015: Ford Rogue Factory Tour (F-150): This tour will put you in the center of the manufacturing of the new military grade aluminum-alloy bodied Ford F150, including an opportunity to view the final assembly process from an elevated walkway. You will view the latest Ford technology, their “living roof,” and experience the Manufacturing Innovation Theater. The tour includes admission and guided tour See NACE CARS Tours, Page 16
NACE | CARS Preview in this issue... p. 21, 22, 27, 56, 60
U.S. District Judge in FL Recommends Dismissing Complaints Without Prejudice in Multi-District Lawsuit
Fry, the litigation director and designated plaintiffs’ liaison counsel, said that in certain instances a district court judge, the trial court judge in the federal system, is permitted to send certain motions to the magistrate judge for what is essentially a “first look.” After reviewing the motion, the judge will prepare a legal opinion on whether or not the motions have merit and whether they should be granted or denied. U.S. District Judge Gregory Presnell asked Magistrate Judge Smith to prepare what is known as a “Report and See MDL Recommends, Page 44
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In the Multi-District Lawsuit involving more than 500 collision repair shops across the country, U.S. Magistrate Judge Thomas Smith recommended in June that the antirust complaints filed against the nation’s top insurers be dismissed without prejudice. Eaves Law Firm, the lead attorneys for the Plantiffs, is able to file amended complaints by June 30. Autobody News spoke to Allison Fry at Eaves Law Firm, based in Jackson, MS, to find out how this development will affect the case.
VOL. 4 ISSUE 10 JULY 2015
South Dakota Insurance Division Reaches Settlement with Insurance Companies, Full Report Due July 6 by Jenna Reed, glassBYTES.com
The South Dakota Division of Insurance has settled with Farmers Insurance Group and Foremost Insurance Group over allegations of industry “violations.” The deal includes a $750,000 penalty. While the specifics of the allegations are under wraps until the full report is released July 6, 2015, this could impact the AGRR industry. Ron Evans, owner of Ron’s Auto Glass in Yankton, SD, is particularly interested in learning more. “The insurance industry is a challenge,” he said. “I don’t know what’s in the report, but I would like to find out. At this point we’re making more on rock chip repairs than installations.” “A lot of our industry’s issues are with networks and insurance companies,” added Shawn Nielsen, owner of Fast Auto Glass in Vermillion, SD. “Like steering is an issue we deal with. I don’t know if this is a steering issue. … I’ve sent complaints into the state insurance division but I’ve never heard back.” When asked if the settlement has anything to do with automotive glass claims, a spokesperson for the state’s insurance division declined to answer. “The exam report will be available July 6,” said Dawn Dovre, a spokesperson for the South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation. “The examination report must remain confidential for 30 days,” according to an insurance division statement.
Five insurance companies within Farmers and Foremost were reviewed. The Farmer Insurance Group companies that came under analysis included Farmers Insurance Exchange, Fire Insurance Exchange and Mid Century Insurance Co. The Foremost Insurance Group companies examined included Foremost Insurance Co. and Foremost Property and Casualty Insurance Co., according to a statement from the state’s insurance division. The insurance division reports it “found various deficiencies in the companies’ practices that needed to be corrected.” For its part, Farmers does not agree that it is doing anything wrong, but decided to resolve the issue through settlement, says a Farmers’ spokesperson. “Farmers has reached a settlement agreement with the South Dakota Division of Insurance to resolve a market conduct exam. While we do not agree with many of the Division’s findings of alleged violations, we have agreed to this settlement in order to resolve the matter,” said Luis Sahagun of Farmers. “We have concerns any time an insurance law is violated in our state,” said Larry Deiter, state insurance director. “The number of violations in this particular report was a significant reason for the monetary penalty.” Autobody News thanks glassBYTES.com for permission to reprint this article.
CARSTAR Jungerman in St. Peters, MO, Named Franchisee of the Year
Each year at its annual conference, CARSTAR recognizes the top owners and business groups throughout its network for their leadership and performance. In the categories for top operations, CARSTAR presented four awards to stores for their achievements. Franchisee of the Year Taking home the top honor as Franchisee of the Year was CARSTAR Jungerman in St. Peters, MO, owned by Kerry Woodson and Toni Donius. Franchisee of the Year is the highest award given in the CARSTAR system, and it represents the best of the best that is CARSTAR. Rookie of the Year The Rookie of the Year was CARSTAR
Friendly in Roselle, IL, which is run by Body Shop Director, Eric Schmit. This award is given in recognition to a new CARSTAR franchisee as it gets “up and running” with CARSTAR. Business Group of the Year The award for Business Group of the Year went to CARSTAR Puget Sound Business Group, which represents 22 stores throughout the region. Next Generation Award For 2015, the Next Generation Award was presented to husband and wife, Tony and Sharon Kempen, who run CARSTAR Pat’s Auto Body in Plover, WI, and CARSTAR Eau Claire South, in Eau Claire, WI.
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