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VOL. 3 ISSUE 10 JULY 2014
Aftermarket Parts Sellers Hear from Congressional Candidate With Ties To The Industry
Attorney and AASP-MN Lobbyist Kevin Walli is Minnesota’s Shop Champion
PartsTrader proposed state limits on use of non-OEM parts, and challenging the automakers’ patent designs on crash parts were all being discussed when non-OEM parts manufacturers and distributors met recently in Austin, Texas. The Automotive Body Parts Association (ABPA) allowed only members in the room during discussion at its convention of the association’s pending lawsuit challenging the validity of six of Ford’s design patents on collision repair parts. But proposed
Kevin Walli has been the lobbyist for the Alliance of Automotive Service Providers (AASP-MN) for the past 20 years. He is a shareholder in the law firm of Fryberger, Buchanan, Smith and Frederick in St. Paul, MN. We got in touch recently to discuss the recent history of legislation that has impacted the collision industry in Minnesota in the past five years.
by John Yoswick
federal legislation that would reduce how long automakers can use design patents to prevent other companies from producing replacement crash parts was among the topics discussed at the event by Louisiana tax Cassie Felder lawyer Cassie Felder, who is running for Congress. Felder, a Republican who believes in tax reform and repealing the Affordable Care Act, told attenSee Aftermarket Parts Sellers, Page 28
Springfield, OH, Community Businesses Donate Time, Money for Rehabbed Police SWAT Vehicle The Springfield business community has joined together to help transform an outdated Brinks armored truck
The new Springfield Police Division’s Special Operations Team armored vehicle. Local businesses, including Maine’s Collision Repair and Navistar, donated more than $100,000 of parts and labor to refurbish an old Brinks truck
into a SWAT rescue vehicle for the Springfield Police Special Operations Team, according to a report in the Springfield News Sun by Allison Wichie. “We’ve done everything that we can do to that truck,” said Fred Maine, owner of Maine’s Collision Repair. “And it’s for all the guys that do (special operations). This is my thanks to you and we’re just happy that you make Springfield a safer place.” Maine’s Collision Repair, Navistar and the UAW Local 402, Hays Fabricating, the Miami Valley AAA, the Port Authority of Springfield
by Ed Attanasio
Q: How did you become the lobbyist for the AASP-MN? KW: I’ve been representing the collision industry in Minnesota for 20 years now, after working in government affairs for many years prior to that. A friend of a friend knew someone at the
AASP-MN and told me they were looking for some representation and more support at the Capitol. Over the years, we’ve been working hard to Kevin Walli, Esq. provide more balhas been the ance between the lobbyist for Minnesota’s Alliance interests of the colof Automotive lision industry and Service Providers the insurance in(AASP-MN) for the dustry, because past 20 years there’s an ongoing tug-of-war there obviously. I believe that there has been a constructive approach by the two industries to try and communicate with one and other. So, See Kevin Walli, Page 6
OH’s Three-C Body Shops Has Filed Over 100 Lawsuits Against State Farm Alleging Systematic Shortpays by Chasidy Rae Sisk
Three-C Body Shops, a four-facility, multi-shop operation in the Columbus OH, area, has filed multiple lawsuits against State Farm Insurance Company in an effort to recover alleged shortpay losses. Since November 2012, Three-C has filed 104 suits
See Springfield SWAT, Page 45
Three-C is Suing State Farm, Alleging Repeated Estimate Discrepancies on Total Losses
against the insurer, all of which accuse State Farm of engaging in “repeated underpayments for services generally rendered and charged to their cus-
tomers when their vehicles have been deemed total losses.” Currently, owner Bob Juniper is seeking $405,000 in recovery, including legal fees and court costs, of which State Farm previously agreed to pay $31,565.03. Juniper notes that he rarely has problems with insurers refusing to pay the full cost of repairs because “we negotiate with them pretty well. We spend a little time with their adjusters and can generally get to where we need to be. We may not always get the full amount of our estimate, but we get close by compromising until we come to terms we can both agree on.” In fact, Juniper hasn’t experienced difficulty from State Farm in paying for repairs either. Three-C’s shortpay lawsuits are associated with costs related to vehicles that are deemed total losses which the insurer objects to paying. Juniper provides the following example: if the shop writes See Three-C Body Shops, Page 22
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