Judge denies State Farm motion to dismiss case seeking reinstatement of $1.18 billion aftermarket collision repair parts verdict. U.S. District Judge David R. Herndon denied a motion last week by State Farm attorney seeking a summary judgement to have a 2012 lawsuit dismissed that alleges the auto insurer recruited and secretly bankrolled Illinois Supreme Court […]
Oregon Collision Repair Shop Sues GEICO Alleging Antitrust
Lawsuit by Leif’s Auto Collision alleges GEICO and ARX shops engaged in conspiracy to suppress repair costs, refuse to reimburse for diagnostic scans. GEICO had sued collision repair facility in January alleging abusive and intimidating conduct against its adjusters. Portland, Oregon-based Leif’s Auto Collision, filed a lawsuit Tuesday in the U.S. District Court in Oregon […]
Texas Jury Finds Collision Repair Center Responsible for Improper Repairs in $42 Million Lawsuit
A jury assigned a Texas collision repair center 75 percent liability in a case brought by Dallas couple who suffered injuries in a car accident in a vehicle that had collision repairs performed that did not follow manufacturer procedures. A jury in the 192nd Civil District Court in Dallas County, Texas found in favor of […]
3M Files Lawsuit Against Thunder Finish for PPS Technology Patent and Trademark Infringement
3Mand 3M Innovative Properties Co. filed a lawsuit September 22 in the Western District of Wisconsin against China-based Thunder Finish Co. Ltd. alleging infringement of patent and trademark rights related to 3M’s PPS technology used in the automotive collision repair industry. 3M has filed several patent infringement claims over technologies used in its collision repair […]
Appeals Court Overturns Dismissal in Collision Repair Shop Lawsuits Against Insurers
Court rules lawsuits by five body shops alleging federal antitrust and state law violations can proceed. On Thursday, the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit overturned a District Court ruling that had dismissed complaints in five lawsuits brought by collision repair facilities alleging violations of federal antitrust law as well as violations […]
Department of Labor Overtime Regulation Ruled Invalid
Business groups, State Attorneys General applaud decision permanently invalidating overtime rule that more than doubled current salary threshold. On August 31, Federal District Judge Amos Mazzant ruled in favor of more than fifty-five Texas and national business groups that had sued last year to block the implementation of the U.S. Department of Labor’s overtime rule […]
Federal Appeals Court Affirms Patent Office Ruling Against Audatex in 2012 Lawsuit with Mitchell
Federal Circuit Appeals Court affirms U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Board ruling that business process patents at heart of 2012 infringement lawsuit invalid. On July 27, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit ruled against an appeal by Audatex North America, Inc. seeking to have a February 19, 2016 decision by the U.S. […]
Attorneys General Announce $5.5 Million Multi-State Settlement With Nationwide Insurance Over 2012 Data Breach
Attorneys General in 33 states have reached a settlement with the Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company and its subsidiary, Allied Property & Casualty Insurance Company, concerning an October 2012 data breach. The data breach, which the states allege had been caused by the failure to apply a critical security patch intended to prevent hacking or viral […]
3M Files Lawsuit Against K2 Concepts and Phoenix Automotive Refinishing for Patent, Trademark, and Copyright Infringement
3M Co. and 3M Innovative Properties Co. filed a lawsuit yesterday, in the Central District of California against K2 Concepts and China-based Phoenix Automotive Refinishing, alleging multiple counts of patent, trademark, and copyright infringement. The suit alleges that certain automotive painting spray gun cup products, which are made by Phoenix in China and marketed and […]
XPEL and 3M Settle Patent Infringement Lawsuit
XPEL Technologies Corp., a supplier of automotive paint protection and window protection films, and 3M, announced they have reached a settlement agreement in a patent infringement lawsuit that was filed in December 2015. “I am pleased we have been able to resolve this matter and look forward to continuing to deliver high-quality products and services […]