The author of AB 1200, a bill that would make it easier for insurers to steer customers,  will chair a legislative hearing on auto body repair fraud on Tuesday, August 25, 2009 at 2 pm in Room 126 of the State Capitol, Sacramento. The CRA---which is opposed to the bill---will request an opportunity to testify before the bill’s author, Assemblywoman Mary Hayashi who runs the powerful Assembly Business and Professions Committee.

“We resent the tone of the author who [implies] that insurers need more control over the repair process because there are too many dishonest collision repairers,” stated Lee Amaradio, CRA president. “ We applaud Congresswoman Jackie Speier for standing in opposition to Assemblywoman Hayashi’s special interest effort to reward insurers by giving them a blank check to strong arm claimants through the claims process. “ Amaradio is asking CRA members to come to the hearing to address any untruths that might be foisted upon committee members.  CRA will issue updates on the hearing on August t as they occur.

Diamondback Collision Center, in Glendale, Arizona, has been acquired by the Boyd Group Inc. (“Boyd Group”) and will now operate under the Gerber Collision & Glass trade name. This acquisition was completed on August 10, 2009. The new location is approximately 18,000 square feet and well located in an area to help serve consumers and insurance clients in the northwest suburban Phoenix area. Including this acquisition, Boyd Group now owns and operates 37 centers in Canada and 47 centers in the U.S., for a total of 84 centers in North America.