West Virginia Attorney General Darrell McGraw announced that the Circuit Court of Kanawha County has issued a permanent injunction against Liberty Mutual Insurance Company from using salvaged or aftermarket crash parts to repair motor vehicles that are less than three years old. The court’s order upholds current state law that requires insurance companies and body shops to obtain a consumer’s written authorization before salvaged parts are used for the repair of new vehicles.
Attorney General McGraw sued Liberty Mutual in January of this year, after an investigation by his Consumer Protection Division revealed that Liberty Mutual had willfully violated state consumer protection laws. Liberty Mutual admitted in court documents that it had repaired nearly 200 vehicles using junkyard and aftermarket parts in violation of the Aftermarket Crash Parts Act, and defended its use of these parts which McGraw believed jeopardized consumers’ safety and diminished the value of consumers’ vehicles.
"This is a victory for West Virginia consumers," said McGraw. "Every consumer has the right to know the type and quality of crash parts used to repair their damaged vehicles."
The court has not yet ruled on the amount of restitution Liberty Mutual will be required to pay to consumers, nor did it rule on the amount of the civil penalties.
More information:
West Virginia Body Shop, Insurer Sued Over Use of Salvage Parts in Repair
