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Takata Responds to Pressure from NHTSA, Honda’s Consumer Education Campaign, Recyclers Respond by: Victoria Antonelli, Online Editor
The cascading number of vehicle recalls caused by defective Takata airbags has been making front page
Photo Credit: 5newsonline.com
news from 2008 to the present day. During that time, automakers have recalled about 17 million vehicles with airbags that can rupture when deployed, producing fragments that can kill or seriously injure motorists. In the latest action, Honda has launched a multi-million dollar print, digital and radio advertising campaign on March 16 to urge Honda and Acura owners to check for open recalls and complete airbag inflator repairs. “The goals of this campaign are to save lives and prevent injuries,” said John Mendel, Executive Vice PresiSee Takata Takes Steps, Page 18
Plaintiffs’ Attorneys at Eaves Law Firm Encourage Shops to Share Stories About Alleged Steering by Stacey Phillips, Assistant Editor
Auto body shops in 36 states are now part of the antitrust Multi District Lawsuit (MDL) in Florida. John Eaves Jr., the lead attorney for the plaintiffs, is encouraging shop owners across the country to share their stories about alleged steering and other insurance practices, regardless whether or not they are part of the lawsuit. Eaves Law Firm in Mississippi plans to use these experiences to help prepare affidavits for an injunction the firm is about to file. “This injunction is going to be asking the court to stop the insurance company’s steering
practices and other retaliatory practices,” he said. In March, Autobody News reported that Judge Gregory Presnell in Florida had dismissed a large portion of the lawsuit. “Since that has happened, we actually found out more information,” said Eaves. The law firm has been preparing the documentation to refile the claims that were dismissed without prejudice. When Autobody News spoke to Eaves, he said that Judge Presnell indicated that he wants more specifics in regards to the lawsuit. In response, Eaves Law Firm has been rewriting
VOL. 6 ISSUE 1 APRIL 2015
25-yr-old Twins Take Over Grandfather’s Body Shop in Middletown, CT by Valerie Bannister — Special to the MiddletownPress.
Sabrina and Adriana Indomenico, 25-year old twins from Middletown, CT, learned the importance of connections at an early age. While they were growing up, they had a close relationship with their grandfather and hung around his auto body repair business. Now, they are running the shop. “Interdependence is better than independence,” was a phrase Stephen Covey used in his bestselling book, Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, says Sabrina, and it is a saying that has stuck with her. His message was that if we all work together, the better off everyone would be. The fraternal twins own San-
Santostefano Auto Body is now run by the founder’s granddaughters, fraternal twins Sabrina, left, and Adriana Indomenico, who are working together, along with long-time employees (l-r) Joe Russo, Mark Reiman and newcomer Nick Pagani. Photo Credit: Valerie Bannister—Special to the Press
tostefano Auto Body at 105 Saybrook Road and take care of their grandfather, Sebastian, in his retirement— going to the grocery store and taking See Twins Take Over, Page 15
ABAC Teaches Senator Blumenthal about ‘Imitation’ Parts, Senator Asks DOJ to Investigate by Chasidy Rae Sisk
In February, CNN’s investigation into unsafe repairs performed with aftermarket parts at preferred shops, due to insurer pressure, generated a lot of at-
See Eaves Law Firm, Page 8
Senator Richard Blumenthal (at podium) meets with repairers at Tony Ferraiolo’s A & R Body Specialty
tention from the general public and government officials. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), a former Connecticut Attorney General who has been a long-time observer of the issues, took particular notice. Blumenthal has
asked the Department of Justice to investigate repairs that may have been performed with imitation parts that could possibly result in unsafe vehicles being returned to the road. Seeking to understand the issue of imitation parts in greater depth, Senator Blumenthal turned to the Auto Body Association of Connecticut (ABAC). On Saturday, February 28, Senator Blumenthal visited ABAC President Tony Ferraiolo’s A & R Body Specialty for a lesson on imitation parts and to hold a press conference. Ferraiolo notes, “Senator Blumenthal has been a long-time supporter of ABAC ever since he was CT’s Attorney General. Like Attorneys General in LA and MS, he has always been consumer-oriented, and he has been a major proponent of our ‘your car, your choice’ slogan. He promotes this idea in ads he produces and in radio interviews and he is trySee Blumenthal, Page 53
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