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Eleventh Circuit Reinstates Body Shops’ Lawsuit Against Insurers, Attorney “Extremely Excited” by Katherine Coig, GlassBytes
Five auto body shops, who claimed several insurance companies fixed repair prices, have had their case reinstated by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. The shops, which are located in different states throughout the country, originally had their case dismissed by a federal judge in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida based on insufficient evidence proving the insurers have an agreement to fix prices. However, on September 7, the
Eleventh Circuit reversed the dismissal. The repair shops allege State Farm, as well as nine other insurers, “depress the shops’ rate for automobile repair,” by setting a market rate which would only benefit the insurance provider. The shops also claim the insurers steer consumers away from non-compliant auto shops, violating federal antitrust and state tort laws. According to court documents, the Eleventh Circuit elected to move the lawsuit forward, stating the shops See Suit Reinstated, Page 28
Hurricane Harvey Wreaks Havoc on Houston, Affected Body Shops Report on Damage
Credit: Patch.com
See Shops Affected, Page 32
P.O. BOX 1516, CARLSBAD, CA 92018
When Hurricane Harvey hit the Southeast part of Texas during the weekend of August 25–27, many small towns along the coast were utterly devastated
and destroyed. However, the most damage was sustained in Houston due to the city’s large size and denser population. Homes, vehicles and businesses were flooded, and at least 45 Houston lives were lost as Harvey unleashed its fury on the Lone Star State. Harvey hit the Texas coast on the evening of Aug. 25 as a Category 4 hurricane, with winds as high as 130 mph, ravaging the coastline. Houston residents awoke on Sunday to flooding that turned roads into rivers. John Kopriva, President of the Houston Auto Body Association
Change Service Requested
by Chasidy Rae Sisk
VOL. 35 ISSUE 10 OCTOBER 2017
SCRS and March Taylor Memorial Fund Award SkillsUSA Gold Medalists Tool Scholarships
As the industry and mainstream media help the recipients secure tools they report on increasing challenges related can use as they enter the trade. Automotive Refinishing recipito shortages of skilled tradespeople, ents awarded include: the Society of Collision Repair Spe• Dylan Ahrndt of Ridgewater cialists (SCRS), the March Taylor Memorial Fund (MTMF) and Snap-on are College Willmar in Minnesota • Dylan Wertz of Vanguard working to make sure that - Sentinal Career and Tech those entering into the colliCenter in Ohio sion repair industry—and Collision Repair recipients working hard to excel in it— awarded include: are both recognized and re• Joel Hartstack of Southwarded for their efforts. western Community College For the third consecuin Iowa tive year, SCRS and MTMF March Taylor • Second-time recipient have partnered to provide a 2007 file photo Alan Zimmerman of Van$1,250 tool scholarship to guard - Sentinel Career and Tech Ceneach of the SkillsUSA National Chamter in Ohio. pionship Gold Medalists in the high See Tool Scholarships, Page 29 school and post-secondary levels to
More Hurricane Coverage p. 26, 55, 66, 79, 86 SEMA Preview Coverage p. 34, 35, 36, 38
Hurricane Harvey Ravaged Cars and Trucks — Bad for Drivers, Good for Automakers by James F. Peltz and David Montero, McRee Ford, Dickinson, Texas Los Angeles Times
with his insurance carrier yet; he’s been busy helping his parents clean out their wind-damaged house along the coast. He said he doubts he’ll get much anyway and is instead hoping
Perry Smith tried to race Hurricane Harvey. He lost. Now his white Toyota Corolla sits with a broken axle in the parking lot of a Strips convenience store in Rockport, Texas. It is, he admits, probably the end of the road for his trusty car with almost 190,000 miles on it. “The hurricane was right Harvey created epic flooding throughout Houston and on my tail,” Smith said. “It southeast Texas. Credit: Robert Gauthier, Los Angeles Times caught me. It lifted the back of the car up and I was looking down for some assistance from the Federal at the road through my windshield. Emergency Management Agency. Still, Texans already have filed Then—bam—it slammed back down more than 100,000 storm-related and that was it.” See Harvey Ravage, Page 22 Smith, 56, hasn’t filed a claim
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