Two lawsuits filed against GEICO in Syracuse, New York, by Nick Orso’s Body Shop are moving forward after a Syracuse City Court judge denied GEICO’s motion to dismiss them. The suits, filed on behalf of customers and covering eight claims, seek to collect shortages in completed repair allowances and legal costs totaling about $30,000.

Mike Orso, president and CEO of Nick Orso’s and president of the New York State Auto Collision Technicians Association (NYSACTA), said he believes GEICO and other insurers employ “stall tactics” to avoid fairly paying claims.

“[GEICO’s] actions were clearly spiteful and go a long way to show their contempt for our industry and the extent they will go to not pay legitimate claims,” Orso said. “They employ costly, time-consuming, frivolous tactics to discourage collections.”

GEICO had hoped to have the suits dismissed on the grounds that they were served improperly, but attorneys for Nick Orso’s maintained that there was documented proof GEICO was properly served, and the judge agreed.

Orso has filed more than 100 claims against insurance companies since late 2007 over labor rate and material shortages and other types of disputes. In the dozen or so claims that have been settled, Orso says he has emerged the victor every time.