Northeast Edition New York New Jersey Pennsylvania Delaware
31
YEARS
VOL. 3 ISSUE 1 APRIL 2013
www.autobodynews.com
Parts Order in PA Leads to Arrest in Fatal Crash A broken headlight led to the arrest of a man accused of a hit-and-run accident that left another man dead. Pacurie Huynh, 29, of Upper Darby, PA, was tracked down via a part ordered to repair the Toyota 4Runner he was driving when he allegedly struck the victim, Thomas Quercetti, 28, on Fourth of July last year. Huynh was arrested Feb. 25 and charged with causing an accident that involved death and failing to give information, according to the criminal complaint. Quercetti was walking home from a friend’s house about 1:30 a.m. on the
shoulder of the 100 block of North State Road in Springfield Township, Delaware County, when he was struck by a vehicle. Police said there was no indication that the vehicle tried to stop. Quercetti, who suffered head trauma, a broken leg, and a broken shoulder, and was in critical condition when he was taken to Crozer-Chester Medical Center, died at home on Feb. 20. He had been on life support since July 4, according to Emily Harris, spokeswoman for Delaware County District Attorney Jack Whelan. The complaint says investigators learned in January that evidence sent See Parts Order Arrest, Page 4
Maryland Legislation Would Block InsurerMandated Parts Procurement, WMABA: Yes Maryland Delegate Mark N. Fisher (R-27B) has introduced House Bill 1375 regarding replacement parts for damaged vehicles. The bill would prevent insurers from requiring a “specific vendor or process for parts procurement”—in effect it would block requirements like State Farm’s PartsTrader initiative in the state. This legislation is one of the first attempts to address recent insurer initiatives relative to parts procurement. The bill language prohibits an adjuster, appraiser, insurance producer or employee of an insurer from requiring a motor vehicle repair facility to use a specific vendor or process
PAINT AND REFINISH TECHNOLOGIES First of 2 Issues
for parts procurement or other necessary material for vehicle repair. The legislation requires an insurer to authorize repairs to be made using genuine crash parts, prohibiting an insurer from requiring repairs to be made using aftermarket crash parts during the five years after the vehicle is manufactured. The insured may consent to the use of aftermarket crash parts in writing at the time of repair. The Automotive Service Association (ASA) and its Collision Division Operations Committee have conducted educational meetings around the country, met with insurer repreSee Maryland Legislation, Page 6
• Custom Painter Stories, p. 24, 29, 42, 46, 50, 52 • Companies Talk Tech p. 13, 23, 26 • Tips and Tricks p. 26 • Training and News, p. 12, 28, 55
NORTHEAST™ 2013—Tradeshow, Seminars, and Insurer-Mandated Parts Procurement Panel
Insurer-Mandated Parts Procurement Program For me, the highlight of AASP Northeast in 2013 was the panel on insurermandated parts procurement programs.
P.O. BOX 1516, CARLSBAD, CA 92018
AASP/NJ hosted the 2013 NORTHEAST™ Tradeshow at the Meadowlands Exposition Center in Secaucus, NJ, on Friday, March 8 through Sunday, March 10. While the expo floor setup and number of seminars remained much the same as the past two years that I’ve attended, I was impressed with the great variety of exhibitors and seminar topics offered this year.
For more coverage, see page 40 for John Yoswick’s coverage of the East Coast Resolution Form and Leadership Meeting; my column featuring Charles Bryant on p. 44 and page 38 for other industry reaction to the event.
Change Service Requested
by Chasidy Rae Sisk
On Friday night, from 6–8 p.m., Aaron Schulenburg, Executive Director of the Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS), moderated a panel discussion on insurer-mandated parts procurement programs.
right and responsibility to find parts and to run your business falls on your own shoulders. And we’re concerned when insurers start to enter into the business of telling you how to run your business. It’s one thing to give goals, it’s one thing to give objectives, it’s one thing to have relationships if that’s important to your business model, but telling you how you are going to perform and how you’re Four of the key participants in the Insurer Mandated Parts Procuregoing to run your ment panel were (from left) Steve Plier, Dan Hunsacker, Andy Dingbusiness and what man, and moderator Aaron Schulenburg. providers and servThis seminar attracted a large number ice models you’re going to use is an of attendees eager to discuss how pro- entirely different story.” The panel for this seminar congrams such as State Farm’s PartsTrader may affect their businesses sisted of three auto body professionals from various regions of the once it is instituted nationwide. Schulenburg noted, “It’s a con- country who have all had some expecern because, frankly, as independent rience with insurer-mandated parts business owners, we believe that the See Northeast 2013, Page 18
Presorted Standard US Postage PAID San Bernardino, CA Permit #2244