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Jay Leno Receives Token of Appreciation from BASF During SEMA 2015 by Stacey Phillips, Assistant Editor
Jay Leno, legendary comedian and host of Jay’s Leno’s Garage, received a special token of appreciation from BASF during SEMA 2015. Fans gathered at the BASF booth on November 4 while Dan Bihlmeyer, BASF’s North A- Jay Leno and the BASF Refinish team at SEMA 2015 merican marketing manager, his preference for BASF products. presented a signature leather jacket to “I’ve been using their products for Leno, who has a collection of 140 cars years and years,” said Leno. “It’s fun of his own. to have this kind of relationship. It’s Autobody News asked Leno about See Jay Leno, Page 18
CIC Debates How to Define a ‘Class A’ Shop—And If Such a Definition is Even Needed
See CIC debates, Page 48
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Whether the 2013 version of the Collision Industry Conference (CIC) definition of the “Minimum Recommended Requirements for a ‘Class A’ Collision Repair Facility” is up-to-date given changes in vehicle and repair technology was not up for debate at the latest CIC in Las Vegas in November. Randy Stabler “We have a wholly inadequate Class A shop definition today,” CIC Chairman Randy
Stabler said. “Things are moving a lot faster than we are. So we need to keep up.” But a number of representatives of the Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) argued at the meeting that there is no longer much of a need for the document at all. “The real-world situation is this Class A definition is irrelevant in today’s market,” SCRS board member Dusty Womble of Roger Beasley Collision Center in Austin, Texas, said. “The cars have changed. The [automaker shop certification] programs have changed. There’s really not a
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by John Yoswick
VOL. 6 ISSUE 9 DECEMBER 2015
Winning SEMA New Product Awards Can Be Life Changers by Ed Attanasio
Capturing an award in the Specialty Equipment Market Association’s (SEMA) New Products Showcase can be a life changing experience for manufacturers that are looking for a fast track to success. Years of research and development coupled with hard work and buoyed by the spirit of entrepreneurship, these awards are given to the most innovative and cutting-edge new automotive aftermarket products in the industry today, judged by some of the biggest names in the automotive world. On Nov. 3 at SEMA’s opening breakfast, a handful of companies from all over the world received these highly coveted awards announced at a ceremony rivaling the Academy Awards. By just being associated with the SEMA brand, companies can gain instant cred-
ibility and fast track their journey to success.
The Collision Repair & Refinish Product First place winner went to Innovative Tools and Technologies, Inc. for the Scangrip Sunmatch Color Match LED. From left, General Manager Jason Cox and Scangrip’s Marketing Manager Hanne Nadolny.
Nearly 2,000 products were entered into 16 different Showcase categories to be considered for SEMA New See SEMA New Product Awards, Page 54
NY Swindler Guilty in No-Fault Auto Insurance Scam that Cost $118M A New York man was found guilty last week in what authorities say was the largest single no-fault automobile insurance fraud scheme ever. Michael Danilovich, 41, of Brooklyn, N.Y., was found guilty on racketeering conspiracy, securities fraud, health care fraud, mail fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering charges following a five-week jury trial before U.S. District Judge Deborah A. Batts. According to U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara, Danilovich was responsible for the payment of more than $100 million in fraudulent medical treatments by insurance companies, and swindling investors out of another $18 million. The federal jury convicted Danilovich of racketeering arising out of his operation, from 2007 through 2012, of the largest single no-fault automobile insurance fraud scheme ever charged; his operation, from 2007 to 2009, of two investment fraud schemes, Lyons Ward & Associates and the Rockford
Group; and his attempted operation, from 2011 to 2012, of a third investment fraud scheme, Baron & Caplan, including after he was arrested and released on bail in this case. According to a statement, Bharara said: “Michael Danilovich has been convicted by a unanimous jury of committing several frauds. As the jury found, he took a lead role in scamming insurance companies of over $100 million in fraudulent medical treatments and in engaging in other investment scams that swindled investors out of another $18 million. Today’s verdict ensures that Danilovich will be punished for the wide-ranging frauds he perpetrated.” According to the Superseding Indictment and evidence admitted at trial: From 2007 through 2012, Danilovich was a leader of an enterprise engaged in a pattern of racketeering that included a massive scheme to defraud See NY Swindler Guilty, Page 33
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