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GEICO Wins Appeal in Case Filed by Miracle Body & Paint Over Labor Rates in TX by Takesha Thomas, SE Texas Record
A San Antonio, TX, auto body shop has lost an appeal against GEICO to recoup funds it says were lost in a breach of contract claim. On Feb. 13, the 4th Court of Appeals in San Antonio affirmed the 45th Judicial District Court of Bexar County’s ruling granting a traditional and no-evidence summary judgment to GEICO Casualty Co. Chief Justice Sandee Bryan Marion ruled that MRG Inc. and Miracle Body and Paint “failed to produce evidence of mutual assent to the terms of an express or implied contract.”
Miracle is a San Antonio-based, independently owned auto body shop. The company sued GEICO over allegations of breach of contract, breach of implied contract, quantum meruit and suit on a sworn account, and, in the alternative, negligent misrepresentation, fraud and fraud by nondisclosure. This story was breaking just as Autobody News was going to press. Please see fuller account at autobodynews.com/index.php/industrynews/item/17147-geico-wins-appeal-i n-case-filed-by-miracle-body-paintover-labor-rates-in-tx.html
2,200 Attendees Hit the City by the Bay for 2019 NADA Show by Ed Attanasio
This year, more than 2,200 industry professionals attended the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) Show from Jan. 24–27 at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, CA. U.S. and international new car dealers, commercial truck dealers, automaker executives and allied industry professionals from 37 countries converged in the City by the Bay for four days of work and fun. At the start of the show, NADA forecasted sales of 16.8 million new
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AUTOBODYNEWS.COM Vol. 37 / Issue 3 / March 2019
Emergency CAA Meeting on Storage & Towing Fees Experiences Record Attendance by Victoria Antonelli
clear up any fee confusion. The night began with a meet-and-greet at 5:30 p.m. and was followed by a tri-tip steak dinner at 6:30 p.m. Gibson was introduced by former Los Angeles CAA President Anthony Guinn at 7:30 p.m. Gibson’s slideshow presentation lasted until 8 p.m. and was followed by an hourlong Q&A session.
On Wednesday, Feb. 6, 210 industry members gathered at The Phoenix Club in Anaheim, CA, to discuss legislation passed in January concerning storage and towing fees. Dave March, owner of Fountain Valley Body Works and longtime memDave March, ber of Orange County/Los multi-shop owner in Angeles California Auto- Southern California Gibson’s main points were: and longtime CAA • Insurers can’t cap storage body Association (CAA), member, helped rates. said the meeting had the navigate the Q&A • Insurance companies are highest attendance in the portion of the trying to use California Highchapter’s history. meeting way Patrol (CHP) rates, Mathew Gibson, a top Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR) which are half of the normal rate. official in the Department of Con- • CHP rates aren’t meant for body sumer Affairs, flew down from Sacra- shops—more for towing and storage mento to explain the new laws and See CAA Meeting, Page 18
New ASA Executive Director Ray Fisher Shares His Goals for the Industry by Chasidy Rae Sisk
UpdatePromise was on hand in full force to unveil new products and meet with current clients. (l to r) Owner/CEO Curtis Nixon, merchant services manager Krista Lucchino, product specialist Bridgette Amador, product specialist Taylor Su, marketing manager Jennifer Marmolejo and sales rep Adam Guizado See 2019 NADA Show, Page 22
Recently appointed Automotive Service Association (ASA) Executive Director Ray Fisher held a press conference on Thursday, Jan. 10 to provide some information on his plans and goals as he transitions into his new leadership responsibilities. “I’m excited to bring my background into this role, and I’m very grateful for the opportunity,” Fisher stated. “We definitely want to engage our membership more. We want to listen to our members and provide venues for quicker availability. All facets of the industry across the globe are caught in different demographics and attempting to reach their constituents. We plan to utilize different mediums and platforms to reach ASA’s membership. My main goal is to represent my customer; our memberships are
our customers, and it’s important that we represent them well.” Fisher emphasized the association’s focus on its mission statement: to enhance the professionalism of the industry.
“I believe our industry is made up of a bunch of professionals, and ASA represents that professional group,” he said. “That was our foundation in 1951 and continues to be today. We plan to take that into 2019 and listen to our membership, enhancing our interactions and commuSee ASA Executive Director, Page 26
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