King Kong vs Godzilla

[GlassStarz]

It seems even the big replacement guys dont like the steer HMM maybe they actualy have the clout to do something

Auto Glass Business News

Updated: April 12, 2002

Diamond-Triumph Files Suit Against Safelite


Allegations of Illegal Steering to Safelite Shops From It's Network



Also See Diamond-Triumph News Release Statement April 17, 2002
From AGRR Magazine

Diamond-Triumph Sues Safelite; Alleged Auto Glass Steering

APRIL 4--Usually it

[mafsu]

It's been a while since I heard anything new on this case. Last I heard I believe the insurance companies were refusing diamond's lawyers access to any info on their customers because of privacy laws.

[GlassStarz]

What I dont get is 2 yrs of this and they still steer its gotta be costing a bundle why not just play fair? maybe some good will come from it ? who knows my point is what chance does a little guy have when we get the steer if a giant cant get it done with the resources they have?

[mafsu]

No chance at all. I'm sure lawyers fees are covered many times over by the increase in business. I would be curious to know just how much Safelite's business (or marketshare) has increased since the inception of SGC Network.

[Julie]

Does anyone know what the industry is saying about this case? Do they think Safelight will lose?

The other networks must be worried about this case. Especially if they think Safelight could lose. Has anyone ever talked to a lawyer about these practices?

If this is the first case to ever come up against a network then it has been well worth it to them to act in an unethical manner. They have been doing this for ?15? years. If they lose this one case, what they pay out won't even come close to what they have made off of everyone for all these years.



I don't see how what the Networks do is legal. I didn't know other people felt that way until I found this forum.

[StarQuest]

The other networks must be worried about this case. Especially if they think Safelight could lose. Has anyone ever talked to a lawyer about these practices?

Julie,

If you have time use your search engine to pull up "Harmon Glass Law Suit" Might give you some insight as to what where up against as independents. This case took place 5 years ago. I was one of 48 independent glass shops here in Michigan that tried taking on Goliath in litigation for unfair steering and trade practices. Needless to say we never had a chance and I was later forced like many others into closing down our businesses. I say let the big boys battle this one out between themselves and just sit back and see what happens. Maybe a favorable outcome to this case will change things for all of us. Lets hope so!

[Julie]

Thanks for the info StarQuest. I searched that about 5 minutes ago and read just a little bit so far yet my head wants to explode. (I can see what my reading will be for this evening!) I see AAA coming up all over. Back in 97/98, in Sacramento, when we would do a AAA replacement MANY times the window was put in WITHOUT urethane, using ONLY A TAPE KIT. Come accross this yourself? It's just not fair when an honest shop closes down and these questionable companies stay in business.

[dgarza]

Star qwest,
What happened from this suit? Ive read a lot on the lawsuit and its details but cannot find a conclusion. very interested in knowing what went down when it went to court.

[DaveC]

I believe this suit is presently in the "Attorneys Running Up Their Bills" stage;)

[StarQuest]

[What happened from this suit?]

In September 1999 the court dismissed our Amended Complaint without prejudice. Unfortunately the case never made it to a trial stage because it was determined by the Insurance Comissioner that the Court did not have primary jurisdiction over our claims. Michigan does not have a anti-steering law in the books to prevent these practices. If we had maybe the outcome would have ended up differently. I can't say that our effort was a total loss. It did boost some public awareness as to what's really going in the glass claims industry.

David C was right. The only winners in this situation were the attorneys. The attorney that represented us collected over $90,000 in legal fees. God only knows how much how much AAA and Harmon paid for their legal defense team

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