Although losing twice before in a Texas district court and before a 5th Circuit appellate court, Allstate Insurance and Ken Starr are hoping to convince the U.S. Supreme Court to take review of the Constitutionality of the Texas statute prohibiting insurance companies from owning collision repair shops.
Although Federal District Judge Ed Kinkeade wrote a compelling and well-reasoned decision identifying the inherent conflict of interest involved with insurers owning body shops, which was affirmed by the 5th Circuit, Allstate didn’t like the answer. Making some of those moth-eaten arguments most of us haven’t seen since law school, Allstate will once again argue that the Texas law violates the Dormant Commerce Clause of The Constitution.
Well, maybe Mr. Starr will fair better back in Washington, D.C. where his “starr” quality may have more appeal.
Allstate v. Abbott, U.S. Suprme Court Docket
Senate OKs CAFE hike - Automotive News
With the current legislative session running out of time, the Senate finally approved the increased CAFE standards that the House has already voted on and passed. All we need now for the new CAFE increases — moving vehicle fuel efficiency up to 35 miles per hour by 2020 — to go into effect, is for the President to sign the bill. Some of Senators supporting passage of the higher CAFE standards declared this to be a victory for the U.S. Perhaps I am just being cynical, but it’s a victory that came 20 years too late.
When I drove the Hummer H2, as much as I liked the vehicle, I cringed because of the wasteful consumption in which I wallowed. I want Hummers to be the most fuel efficient vehicles on the market, because they are comfortable, stable, and so much fun to drive. But I want to feel good about myself driving one, too. So, my challenge to you, AM General, is to make any future Hummer the most fuel efficient vehicle available in its class, and let my dream come true.
I-CAR - Current Events/News: e-newsletters: Advantage Online: December 3, 2007
I-CAR recently published its Advantage Online Newsletter for December questioning whether general sectioning methods were appropriate for today’s modern vehicles. I-CAR’s conclusion? General sectioning methods are no longer recommended.
If you visit the newsletter edition link above, you can access a video demonstrating the reduced strength and earlier failure point of high-strength boron alloy steel when exposed to even small amounts of heat typically used in the repair process. The video presents a useful, visual demonstration that is easy to understand and can assist people without engineering or collision repair backgrounds to understand just why it is a bad idea to ignore manufacturer repair recommendations or fail to investigate just how your vehicle is to be repaired.