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U.S. Coast Guard Calls Off Search for Sanford, FL, Body Shop Owners After Plane Crash Alan and Kathleen Van Nimwegen, owners of Seminole Paint and Auto Body Shop in Sanford, FL, went missing when their private plane crashed in severe weather during a flight from the Bahamas the morning of July 16. They were the only people on board. The U.S. Coast Guard has now called off the search to locate the Nimwegens after their Beechcraft Bonanza BE 36 crashed shortly after take off about 9:20 AM on a return trip from Bahamas to Daytona Beach. The Coast Guard responded quickly, deploying a helicopter that found a massive debris field, oil slick and empty
Seminole Paint and Auto Body in Sanford
life raft around five miles off Great Harbour Cay. USCG Petty Officer Jon-Paul Rios said that searchers concentrated on the area off Great Harbour Cay, near the Berry Islands, after a Coast Guard C130 airplane spotted See Missing Shop Owners, Page 10
State Farm and PartsTrader Defend Parts Program, Questioned about Benefits to Shops
See PartsTrader Defends, Page 8
P.O. BOX 1516, CARLSBAD, CA 92018
Perhaps the most interesting question at the latest Collision Industry Conference (CIC) came at the end of a 2-hour discussion regarding PartsTrader, the electronic parts ordering system State Farm is requiring its Select Service shops in four markets to use (see related cover story). Denise Caspersen, the collision division manager for the Automotive Service Association (ASA), asked State Farm’s George Avery the same question the association first posed to the insurer formally five weeks earlier in a press release, namely, what bene-
fit, financially or operationally, does required use of PartsTrader offer shops? “If State Farm is not able to clearly demonGeorge Avery strate the benefits of this pilot application to the repair community, then this application should not move forward,” ASA’s June 12 press release stated. While Avery skillfully addressed most of the questions and comments about PartsTrader during
Change Service Requested
by John Yoswick
VOL. 3 ISSUE 6 AUGUST 2012
Public Adjuster Moratorium ‘Unconstitutional’ Says Florida Supreme Court; Shops Notice A 2008 Florida law establishing a 48hour moratorium on public adjusters was ruled unconstitutional July 5 by the Florida Supreme Court on grounds that it restricted commercial speech. The Florida Supreme Court has declared unconstitutional a state law banning public insurance adjusters from soliciting policyholders during the first 48 hours after a damaging event. The decision was a blow to the insurance industry and Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater, who appealed a lower court ruling that was unanimously upheld by the state’s highest court. Public adjusters serve as advocates for policyholders while negotiating insurance claims. The overturned law had prevented them from getting involved in insurance
cases for at least 48 hours after the occurrence of an event. The association representing Florida public adjusters applauded the ruling. “The ban on solicitation is a violation of public adjusters’ free speech rights - and more importantly, an unfair rule that put policyholders at a disadvantage,” said Harvey Wolfman, president of the Florida Association of Public Insurance Adjusters. “Thanks to this ruling, we can help more policyholders in those critical first hours when they need it most.” At issue in the case was a 2008 Florida law, created in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, that prohibited insurance adjusters from soliciting business for 48 hours after an event See 48-hr Moratorium, Page 11
PartsTrader Coverage Continues from the Cover Story See additional coverage of PartsTrader on pages 12, 14 and 28.
PartsTrader Draws Blistering Reaction at CIC, Shop Owners Line Up to Comment in Person by Autobody News Staff
A capacity crowd of more than 400 heard State Farm Claims Consultant George Avery and PartsTrader CEO Rob Cooper give an overview of the very controversial parts procurement system at the CIC in San Antonio. Avery, who is also the incoming Chairman of the CIC starting in January, has endured some harsh criticism since the details of the PartsTrader program were first announced. Avery and Cooper outlined the program for the few unaware of it, and explained State Farm foresees shops ordering all their parts (recycled, aftermarket and OEM) from a single provider, PartsTrader. Avery attempted some comic relief by joking that he had a button made up saying, “I Love My Job, I
Love My Job, I Love My Job,” but questions and comments from approximately 20 members of the audience made it clear that while electronic parts ordering was unRob Cooper derstood and largely positive, there was significant apprehension about insurance companies intervening and/or controlling the process. Avery said misinformation about the program is widespread, and much of the concern is based on speculation and rumors from individuals who have not tried the product. “We only have 158 stores on the pilot that are actually using the proSee PartsTrader Pushback, Page 18
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