With over thirty years of experience in the automobile industry, we are well aware of the dilemmas that can arise between customers and their insurance companies. Our goal is to make sure each and every vehicle is repaired correctly, using top-notch equipment and high-quality automobile parts. We don’t work for the insurance companies- we work for you! If you’ve been in an accident, call us FIRST. We’ll deal with your insurance company directly and take you through our stress-free collision repair process. Continue reading below to see why you want Barry’s Auto Body in your corner at all times!
Barry’s Auto Body of NY LLC, acting as the assignee of personal property claims for four of its clients, has filed a lawsuit on their behalf in NYS Supreme Court. The suit names Tri-State Consumer Insurance Company, Inc., Gabe Deri, Louis Simo, Basit Irfan and IANET Corporation as defendants and states six causes of action. 1) Breach of Contract against Defendant Tri-State; 2) Violation of General Business Law §349 Against Tri-State; 3) Deceptive Business Practices in Violation of General Business Law §349 against IANet Corp.; 4) Tortious Interference With Business Relationship against Defendant Gabe Deri; 5) Tortious Interference With Business Relationship Against Defendant Basit Irfan; 6) Tortious Interference With Business Relationship Against Defendant Basit Irfan.
Staten Island, New York
Barry’s Auto Body is suing Tri-State Consumer Insurance Company, Inc., Gabe Deri, Louis Simo, Basit Irfan and IANET Corporation on behalf of their clients for, “violating General Business Law §349 by engaging in unfair claims practices.”
The lawsuit filed in New York State Supreme Court states, “Pursuant to its insurance Policies, Tri-State was obligated to provide sufficient coverage to restore the Assignors’ Vehicles to their pre-accident condition,” but that, “In preparing the Insurer’s Estimates, Tri-State insisted on using parts that are not Original Equipment Manufacturer parts even when those parts are known to be of inferior quality…”
The suit continues by stating, “Defendants jointly and severally impeded and delayed fair settlement of the Assignor’s claims by using improper costs schedules, setting arbitrary price caps, refusing to negotiate in good faith on labor rates, refusing to pay appropriate amounts for paint materials and parts, and by otherwise failing to inspect or re-inspect the Vehicles within the time frames specified by regulation.”
The suit also states, “…Plaintiff has had numerous dealings with Defendant Tri-State for insurance claims for repairs to its insureds’ vehicles…” and “That Tri-state has continually engaged in unfair claims practices … including using inappropriate methods of determining the number of hours of labor, the arbitrary capping of labor rates, improper practices regarding payment for paint and materials, and misleading consumers regarding the availability of other repair shops that would put the vehicle to its pre-loss condition for the amount of Tri-State’s estimate”
“That as a result of the foregoing policies of Tri-State, which affected all general consumers and customers of Tri-State, Tri-State has violated General Business Law §349 by engaging in unfair claims practices … and by arbitrarily and improperly refusing to pay the actual amounts reasonably necessary to restore each Vehicle to its pre-loss condition.”
Said Barry Crupi, owner of Barry’s Auto Body, “Insurance companies and auto body shops are regulated to insure public safety. I am obligated morally and by law, to restore vehicles to a safe to operate condition. This is not the first time an insurance company tried to pressure me into cutting corners on a vehicle repair and it will likely not be the last.”