Artie’s Auto Body, Inc. v. Hartford Fire Insurance Co.
On November 17, 2009, following a four-week jury trial, Bernstein Liebhard LLP won a verdict of $14.7 million for our clients and the class we represent in Artie’s Auto Body, Inc. v. Hartford Fire Insurance Co., No. X08-CV-03-0196141S (CLD) (Conn. Super. Ct.). Acting as a co-lead counsel, the firm represents Artie’s Auto Body, Inc., A&R Body Specialty, and Skrip’s Auto Body, which are licensed auto body repair shops in the state of Connecticut. The Firm also represents the Auto Body Association of Connecticut (“ABAC”), a not-for-profit association of automobile repair shops in the state of Connecticut, which is dedicated to the advancement of the collision repair industry.
The action was commenced in 2003 on behalf of approximately 550 licensed auto body repair shops in the state of Connecticut to recover for the harm caused by The Hartford’s illegal practice of artificially suppressing labor rates for auto body repair work well below market rates, and illegally steering its insureds to a closed network of preferred auto body repair shops whose activities are tightly controlled by The Hartford, in direct violation of Connecticut law. Plaintiffs sought compensatory and punitive damages under Connecticut’s Unfair Trade Practices Act, restitution by reason of unjust enrichment, and injunctive relief to reform these illegal practices.
For more information please contact Ronald J. Aranoff, Esq. at (212) 779-1414.
