New York, NY 11/18/2009 5:59:39 AM
Bernstein Liebhard LLP Wins $14.7 Million Jury Verdict For A Connecticut Class Of Independent Automobile Physical Damage Repair Shops against The Hartford Fire Insurance Company
Bernstein Liebhard LLP is pleased to announce that it (along with co-counsel) has won a $14.7 million jury verdict for a class of Connecticut independent automobile physical damage repair shops against The Hartford Fire Insurance Company (“The Hartford”). The case, filed in July 2003 in the Connecticut Superior Court (Stamford/Norwalk Division), claimed that, in violation of Connecticut’s Unfair Trade Practices Act, The Hartford wrongfully “steered” its insureds to a closed network of repair shops and suppressed the hourly labor rate paid to independent auto body repair shops for repairs performed on The Hartford’s insureds automobiles. In rendering a verdict for the plaintiff auto body repair shops, the jury found that The Hartford violated the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act by suppressing the labor rate paid to these independent shops.
The case was litigated for six and one half years, including a three week jury selection process and a four week jury trial. The verdict, which provides a recovery for a class of one thousand five hundred independent auto body shops, will protect the independent auto body shops from undue influence by The Hartford whose only interest is improving its own bottom line at the expense of these independent repair shops. The class was represented by Artie’s Auto Body, Fairfield, Connecticut; A&R Body Shop, Wallingford, Connecticut; Skrip's Body Shop, Prospect, Connecticut; T&J Auto Body (sub-class rep), East Hartford, Connecticut; and The Auto Body Association of Connecticut.
Commenting on the verdict, partner Ronald Aranoff stated: “We are delighted for our clients who have had to deal with this offensive conduct for many years. Now these independent repair shops can compete on an equal playing field free from The Hartford’s undue pressure and influence.”
The case was litigated by partners Stanley D. Bernstein and Ronald J. Aranoff, and associates Dana Statsky Smith, Tania T. Taveras and Amina Akram.
For more information, please contact Ronald J. Aranoff, Esq. at (212) 799-1414.
Bernstein Liebhard LLP
10 East 40th Street
New York, New York 10016
(212) 779-1414
www.bernlieb.com
ATTORNEY ADVERTISING. © 2009 Bernstein Liebhard LLP. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Bernstein Liebhard LLP, 10 East 40th Street, New York, New York 10016, (212) 779-1414. Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter.
