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Michigan Bill Would Prohibit Insurer-Mandated Parts Procurement from Specific Suppliers or Processes On July 1, Michigan State Sen. Joe Hune (R-22), chairman of the Senate Insurance Committee, introduced Senate Bill 430, a bill that amends the insurance code to prohibit insurers from requiring automotive repairers to use a specific vendor or process to procure parts and other materials. If enacted, this legislation would effectively end all such requirements in current directrepair program agreements for Michigan shops. This bill was introduced in response to the Automotive Service Association’s (ASA) advocacy efforts in the Michigan legislature. Ray Fisher, president of ASA-Michigan, said,
“This bill would continue to allow repairers to choose their parts procurement systems and their parts vendors as they currently do with a majority of their customers’ insurance carriers. In turn, this will continue to increase efficiency for the automotive repair process by supporting local parts vendors and ensuring quality parts for consumers.” ASA President Dan Risley echoed Fisher’s remarks. “ASA has communicated our concerns with mandatory parts procurement to the industry,” said Risley. “We believe that direct repair program mandates to utilize specific See Michigan Bill, Page 6
Nevada Shop Owner Films Pilot Show for Reality Series ‘Every accident is a unique story to be told’ by Stacey Phillips, Assistant Editor
The McCarran Auto Body team was hard at work, as usual—back in January 2015—painting, welding and sanding. It was a typical day. The only difference was that the employees were being videotaped for a possible TV reality series. Jerry Wientjes, Jerry Wientjes owner of McCarfrom McCarran ran Auto Body in Auto Body Sparks, NV, said that Bishop Lyons Entertainment made
the commitment to produce the series for nationwide distribution. CEO Andrew Bishop and President David Lyons, the executive producers of the series, are currently in discussions with national cable networks in anticipation of airing episodes in 2016. “The premise of the show is behind every auto accident is a unique story to be told,” said Lyons. “The series follows outrageous and comical stories as seen through the eyes of the customers and employees.” Lyons said that after working with Jerry and his team, they noticed Jerry’s personal connection to his See Reality Series, Page 20
VOL. 33 ISSUE 8 AUGUST 2015
Utah Shop Gives Reasons for Leaving Liberty Mutual DRP, Alleges Retaliation in New Utah Suit A Utah body shop owner describes why he left Liberty Mutual’s direct repair program in 2014 and allegedly immediately faced retaliation in a new version of a Utah lawsuit brought by auto body shops against insurers, according to an article by John Huetter in Repairer Driven News. The new version of Alpine Straightening Systems et al v. State Farm et al filed in late May also makes a variety of other steering allegations, including that an insurer tried to get a policyholder’s Audi sent 500 miles away to a DRP shop by incorrectly insisting damage was structural. The shops in the Alpine complaint do have one thing going for them that some other states’ plaintiff auto body shops don’t: A Utah court has ruled that
a “benefit” can be given indirectly. That could mean that shops who ate the costs of items like denib and finesse to truly return a car to pre-accident condition gave insurers a benefit by allowing them to satisfy their obligation to their customers. The Utah Supreme Court has overturned another decision that removes “improper purpose” as a grounds to sue someone for suing someone for interfering with your business, according to insurer motions to dismiss the new lawsuit. The Supreme Court worried allowing both as grounds would cripple legitimate competition. See the full article at: http://www.repairer drivennews.com/ 2015/06/22/shop-outlines-reasons-forleaving-drp-alleged-retaliation-in-revised -utah-lawsuit/
NACE Moves From Detroit to Anaheim, August 2016
First Major Collision Trade Show in California in Well Over a Decade by Autobody News Staff
During the NACE-CARS expo in Detroit July 21–25, ASA executives confirmed that the next NACE expo will occur next August in Anaheim, CA. The announcement was greeted with relief by many in attendance. Despite a wellorganized expo, very well-attended MSO Symposium (700 attendees), a major connected car technology and telematics forum, and demonstrationrich expo floor complete with active spray booths and occasionally running vehicles, the show failed to attract many more than the approximately 6,200 show attendees of last year’s NACECARS. This despite the show adding
20% more floor space and exhibitors. The 2015 show required 54,500 See NACE Moves West, Page 12
Donny Seyfer (l), CARS Chair, and Dan Risley, ASA President, beside hockey goalie helmet painted by air-brush artist Ray Bishop. The helmet was auctioned to help to raise money for breast cancer fundraising and will be displayed at ASA headquarters
Additional NACE/CARS 2015 Coverage in this Issue...
NACE 2015 Entertains, Informs and Wows (photo montage) p. 28 ● MSO Symposium During NACE Include Claims Management Models, Future of DRPs and Financing Options p. 52 ● Jon Kosmoski from Valspar’s House of Kolor & TV Reality Star KC Mathieu Demo Kandy Painting p. 44 ● Behind-the-scenes Look at MI Factory Where Ford F-150 Is Manufactured p. 39 ● Chip Foose Demonstrates 3M’s New Accuspray Gun p. 29 ● More Coming in September
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