Legislation sought to define OEM, certified and non-certified part types and require written consent indicating parts choice. A bill before the Maryland legislature that sought to add a section to the Maryland Statutes to define the different types of crash parts used to repair a vehicle and require written consent from the insured to the […]
U.S. Supreme Court Denies ABPA Petition to Hear Ford Collision Repair Part Design Patent Appeal
The denial leaves in place lower court finding Ford’s design patents for the F-150 are valid and enforceable. The U.S. Supreme Court yesterday denied a petition by the Automotive Body Parts Association to hear its appeal of lower court rulings that found design patents covering a hood and headlamp for the Ford F-150 were valid […]
Interview: Dan Risley, CCC Information Services
Risley discusses how the information provider is addressing industry needs in the face of evolving privacy and security regulations. With the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) coming into effect this year, and concerns over security and privacy issues growing generally across the U.S., the need for the collision repair industry to employ data security and […]
Oklahoma Bill Would Require Collision Repair Facilities to Follow Storage Rate Limits
Legislation that passed Senate would add repair facilities to existing regulations on maximum storage fee limits. Legislation introduced in Oklahoma would require collision repair facilities to follow the maximum charge limits that currently only apply to towing businesses in the state. Oklahoma Senate Bill 1314 (SB 1314), that was introduced on January 13 and amended […]
Ford Files Lawsuit Against AirPro Diagnostics
Vehicle manufacturer alleges that remote diagnostic provider violated its trademarks and license agreements by providing remote diagnostic services using Ford software. Ford Motor Company and its Ford Global Technologies, LLC (FGTL) subsidiary filed a federal lawsuit against AirPro Diagnostics alleging the remote diagnostic service provider is infringing Ford’s trademarks and licensing agreements and is committing […]
Interview: Mario Dimovski, TradieBot Industries and Plastfix
Australia-based innovator has developed virtual reality programs to help train entry-level painters, augmented reality technical information systems and a robotic 3-D printing headlight Repairbot. Longtime readers of CollisionWeek are familiar with Australia-based TradieBot Industries. Over the past few years, the company has launched a project to develop a robotic 3-D printing Repairbot to fix damaged […]
GEICO Reports Auto Policies in Force Up 6.4% in 2019
Voluntary policies increased by over 1 million last year. Claims frequency declined, but severity increased. Berkshire Hathaway reported its 2019 earnings on February 22, including details of its GEICO Insurance operations. GEICO’s premiums written and earned in 2019 increased 5.5% and 6.6%, respectively, compared to 2018. According to the company’s annual report, these increases were […]
OEM Collision Repair Procedures Legislation Introduced in Illinois
Bill would require insurers to base claim payments on, and collision repairers to use, vehicle manufacturer compliant repair procedures. Excludes OEM parts mandates, but requires use of like, kind and quality. Legislation introduced February 13 in Illinois, the fourth largest collision repair market in the U.S., seeks to require both auto insurance companies and collision […]
GEICO Files Federal RICO Lawsuit in California Alleging Glass Shop Fraudulently Inflated Claims
Insurer seeks to recover over $150,000 in alleged fraudulent billing and declaration it doesn’t owe over $50,000 in outstanding claims. Following similar lawsuits in Arizona and Florida, GEICO has filed a federal lawsuit in California alleging an auto glass repair facility submitted fraudulent glass repair bills. GEICO seeks to recover damages alleging violations of the […]
OEM Collision Repair Procedures Bill Passes Committee Vote in Washington State
Legislation would require insurers pay for reasonable repair costs including vehicle manufacturer repair procedures. Proposed legislation in Washington State would require changes to auto insurers’ policy language, require insurers to pay for reasonable and necessary costs for repair including OEM procedures, and place the burden of proof that repair procedures are not necessary on the […]