Upholds lower court finding that Ford’s design patents for the F-150 are valid and enforceable. The United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit on July 23 published its public opinion rejecting arguments by the Automotive Body Parts Association (ABPA) that design patents covering a hood and headlamp for the Ford F-150 are invalid. […]
Vermont Supreme Court Awards Over $40,000 to Collision Repair Shop in Short Pay Case
Justices reverse Superior Court ruling in favor of Nationwide Insurance in assignment of benefits lawsuit involving over 70 claims. The Vermont Supreme Court on June 28 reversed a lower court ruling that had overturned a jury award of over $40,000 to a Vermont collision repair facility that had sued Nationwide Insurance for underpayments on claims. […]
California Passes Bill Clarifying Insured Ability to Select Collision Repair Shops, Allows Insurers to Require Safety System Repairs as Condition of Payment
California passes legislation amending regulations governing the payment of automobile collision repairs. Measure now goes to Governor. The California Assembly has passed legislation to amend Section 560 of the Insurance Code that details insurance company responsibilities for the payment of claims for collision coverage. The amended version of Assembly Bill 1538 (AB 1538) was passed […]
Rhode Island Passes Legislation Clarifying Need for Physical Inspections on Collision Repair Claims Exceeding $2500
Rhode Island amends its unfair claims practice regulations. Jina Petrarca from Auto Body Association of Rhode Island details legislation in interview. The Rhode Island legislature passed House and Senate companion bills that amend and expand the definitions of unfair claims practices committed by insurers with regard to physical inspection, performance of appraisals, retail valuation and […]
NSF Discontinues Collision Repair Parts and Business Certification Programs
NSF International announced it will discontinue its automotive certification programs in September. NSF International yesterday announced it will discontinue its Automotive Parts Certification program and affiliated automotive certification and registration programs, effective September 30, 2019. Certified parts manufactured on or before that date will be considered “NSF certified” for the lifetime of the part. A […]
New Hampshire Legislature Passes OEM Collision Repair Procedures Bill
Legislation includes both collision repair and auto glass. Does not require use of OEM parts included in recommendations. The New Hampshire House of Representatives on Thursday concurred with Senate amendments to a bill prohibiting insurance companies from knowingly fail to pay a claims based upon OEM collision repair procedures. The bill keeps New Hampshire’s existing […]
Nevada Non-OEM Collision Repair Parts Bills Dies with End of Legislative Session
Bill that would have required insurers to pay for OEM parts for 60 months from a vehicle’s manufacture date did not make it to a vote. Nevada Assembly Bill 173 (AB 173) that sought to increase restrictions on insurer’s requirements that collision repair facilities use non-OEM collision repair parts died with the expiration of the […]
Louisiana Legislature Passes Collision Repair and Auto Glass Anti-Steering Legislation
Bill expands state’s current anti-steering law and increases fines that can be levied on auto insurance companies. On Saturday, June 1, the Louisiana Senate voted to approve legislation passed by the House of Representatives that would expand the state’s anti-steering law and double fines for an initial offense and a 10 times increase for third […]
OEM Collision Repair Procedures Legislation Introduced in New York
Assembly bill would require collision repair facilities and insurance companies to comply with guidelines and service bulletins issued by vehicle manufacturers. New York State is the latest to see legislation introduced that would require the collision repair industry to follow OEM repair procedures and auto insurers would have to pay for them. New York Assembly […]
Louisiana Legislation Seeks to Increase Fines for Insurance Company Collision Repair and Auto Glass Steering
Legislation passed by the House of Representatives would expand the state’s anti-steering law and double fines for an initial offense and a 10 times increase for third and subsequent offenses. Louisiana House of Representative legislation currently before the Louisiana Senate would expand the state’s existing insurance company steering prohibitions for collision repair and auto glass […]