The Auto Body Association of Connecticut (ABAC) and the Coalition of Collision Repair Excellence (CCRE) are taking up donations to help Greg Coccaro of North State Custom in Bedford Hills, N.Y., pay his roughly $200,000 in legal bills following a court case with Progressive. Progressive Insurance sued Coccaro for alleged fraud in charges for a 2005 repair. Coccaro’s case, which a New York state Supreme Court judge dismissed Tuesday, lasted about three weeks.
“This collision repair industry owes him a un-repayable debt for his courage and perseverance in the face of great adversity,” ABAC President Bob Skrip wrote in a letter to industry members. “If Greg lost the case, it had the potential to lead to financial ruin.”
Coccaro also is suing Progressive for alleged steering, Skrip noted. If Coccaro can recoup his losses with that case, all donations will go to charitable organizations throughout the United States. CCRE and ABAC are also planning a ceremony in the near future to present the donations to Coccaro and his family.
To make a donation, make a checks payable to Greg Coccaro. Mail checks to: ABAC, 104 Cheshire Rd., Prospect, CT 06712.
For more information, e-mail Skrip at
indabodybiz@aol.com. Click
HERE to read our story about the trial.