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Local news stories affecting the auto body industry in California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Hawaii, Alaska and Wyoming
UPDATE: Body Shop owners Charged with 56 counts of fraud plus tax fraud and perjury
California Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner announced that Department of Insurance investigators assisted in developing felony insurance fraud criminal complaints against Bita Imani, the owner of Redwood-city auto repair shop Group Specialists, and Mehran Baranriz, the general manager.
Cal Auto Club Closing its California call centers
California State Automobile Association says it is closing all of its California call centers earlier than previously announced because it’s too expensive to do business in the state.
Self-Funding Grants can be had for qualified suppliers and shops to install waterborne paint systems
GRC, a Registered Environmental Assessment firm, has structured a Certified Green Investment (CGI) program to provide no-cost funding to convert from solvent based paint to waterborne paint using a shared-savings partnership arrangement between major insurance carriers, paint manufacturers and lending institutions.
CA Watchdog Group Says Three Insurance Bills Will Raise Drivers' Rates, Put Spyware in Cars
Group says Bills Could Cost Taxpayers Millions For Legal Defense
Three 'anti-consumer' pieces of legislation that will raise auto insurance rates,
invade drivers' privacy and violate the voter-approved consumer protections
of Proposition 103 will be heard in the Senate Banking, Finance and
Insurance committee June 18.
Watsonville, CA: Body Shop Takes Fine Art Approach
Visitors won’t see a “gone fishing” sign in the window of Salvatore Sardina’s auto body shop on Freedom Boulevard. But the mural on the side of his business may tempt some to leave work early and grab a fishing pole. A 50-foot-long mural that will adorn the side of Rolf’s Airport Auto Body at Freedom and Airport boulevards will celebrate fishing on the Monterey Bay.
Sardina received unanimous approval Tuesday night from the City Council to create this piece of public art overlooking Freedom Boulevard.
More...
AZ: AAA names top repair shops
by Arizona Daily Star
AAA Arizona has released its seventh annual list of "Top Shops," a list of auto repair facilities that the automobile club has determined provide their customers with honest, reliable and quality service.
California Commissioner Announces $6.3 Million Restitution in Workers' Comp Fraud Case
Chatsworth Company Allegedly Underreported Payroll; Pleads No Contest to Fraud
Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner announced Cover All, Inc., a 15-year old flooring and carpet installation company headquartered Chatsworth, pled no contest to one count of insurance fraud in Los Angeles County Superior Court. On June 2, 2006, the corporation was placed on five years probation and ordered to pay $6.3 million restitution to the victim, State Compensation Insurance Fund (SCIF).
CRA asks members to Voice Opposition to California AB 2825
In a final hour maneuver, CAPA and other groups behind AB 2825 (Carter) have amended an already burdensome measure and made it worse. Please read the adjoining amendments that went into the bill.
Oregon Collision Shops Give State Farm High Customer Service Marks
State Farm and several smaller Northwest-based auto insurers continue to be among the best at taking care of their customers after an accident. And some of the other larger, best-known insurers---including Progressive, Allstate, Safeco and Farmers Insurance -- are among the worst. That was the finding of a new survey of businesses that interact with auto insurers on behalf of vehicle-owners every day: Oregon collision repair shops.