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Couple Injured in Honda Fit Case Awarded $31.5 M from Shop, Tracy Firm Resumes State Farm Lawsuit by Ed Attanasio
On Oct. 2, a Texas jury found that John Eagle Collision Center’s improper repair was liable for the severity of the crash of a 2010 Honda Fit, awarding the injured couple $42 million in damages, but assigning 25% blame to the driver of the other vehicle, a 2010 Toyota Tundra, leaving the shop responsible for 75 percent of the couple’s injuries, and owing approximately $31.5 million under the verdict. Attorney Todd Tracy, who represented plaintiffs Matthew and Marcia Seebachan, was pleased with the award and not at all surprised with
the result. “I think it was vindication for the Seebachans in many ways,” Tracy said. “Once the jury weighed all of the evidence and went through the testimony, they could clearly see that most of the liability rested with the body shop. One of the more influential members of the jury said that John Eagle Collision Center made a business decision when they glued the roof instead of welding it on the Honda Fit. She concluded that since it was a bad decision, the shop had to pay for it and the award indicates that thinking.” See $42M Verdict, Page 23
The New Car Paint Lexus Spent 15 Years Creating by Richard Aucock, Motoring Research
Lexus has launched a new color called Structural Blue—after spending a staggering 15 years developing the paint technology behind it. However, painting cars with it is so complex,
only two Structural Blue cars a day can be made. The firm has been working for the past decade and a half with a specialist company in California to invent the new paint. VIAVI Solutions Inc. is an expert in thin-film optical coatings, and has helped Lexus take the Structural Blue color into production. Originally shown as a concept, the first iteration of the color was made up of no fewer than 40 layers. The two companies reduced this down to seven layers, which are apSee New Car Paint, Page 60
VOL. 35 ISSUE 11 NOVEMBER 2017
Texas Shops Speak Out Against Photo Estimating by Chasidy Rae Sisk
Since insurance companies began utilizing cell phone apps for photo estimating a few years ago, it has become a topic of great concern among many collision repair professionals.
Although the insurer estimated repairs on this 2015 BMW at $1,044.19, shop manager Chad Kiffe predicts the repair will cost over $7,000
Although insurers claim that photo estimating is more convenient for consumers, collision repair indus-
try leaders have predicted that the short-term convenience may be negated by additional time required for supplements, as well as the potential for consumers to receive less money for diminished value than they’re owed. Now that they’ve been involved with this process for some time, shops in Texas are finally speaking out about how photo estimating impacts the repair process and the consumer experience. Chad Kiffe, General Manager for Berli’s Body & Fine Auto Finishes, says, “Photo apps allow the consumer to start their claim faster without the need to go to a shop for an estimate. This is a big plus for consumers when considering the value of their time, but photos very rarely show the extent of damages due to numerous reasons, resulting in poor estimates. This causes unnecessary delays since most photo See Photo Estimating, Page 38
California Autobody Association Prepares for AB 1679 ‘Fight of their Careers’ by Ed Attanasio
With AB 1679 now a “two-year” bill (see prior coverage at autobodynews.com), the California Autobody Association (CAA) is getting ready for what many body shop owners in the Golden State believe is going to be the fight of their careers. To prepare, the organization is asking current members to call upon other shops to help them take on this potentially disastrous bill as they enter 2018. In an announcement, CAA Executive Director David McClune briefed its membership on the current state of AB 1679. “The Assembly Appropriations Committee has delayed consideration on AB 1679 until next year,” he stated. “Yes, it’s good news, but the battle has only begun. We are still David against the Goliath insurance industry and
whatever reincarnation of AB 1679 will appear next, we need your help. The insurance companies can re-introduce it in January and they likely will, but it’s good news that they didn’t
come up with another bill this year. We can win this thing, but only if every shop, each staff member, each employee, and every family member does their part, and we are going to do everything we can to make it easy for See AB 1679, Page 10
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