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No. 5-99-0830 IN THE APPELLATE COURT OF ... - Appellate.net

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OEM parts. 5/ At least two states — Hawaii and Massachusetts — affirmatively encourage<br />

the use of non-OEM parts. See Haw. Rev. Stat. § 431:10C-313.6(a) (insureds who insist on<br />

receiving OEM parts must pay the price difference between the OEM part and a non-OEM<br />

part); Mass. Regs Code tit. 211, § 133.04 (non-OEM parts “shall be used” absent specified<br />

conditions).<br />

For years, car companies (which have a monopoly on OEM parts for their cars), and<br />

bodyshops (which make more money selling higher priced OEM parts, R. 6738-39, 7096-97;<br />

PX 1316 at 7-15), have vigorously lobbied state legislatures to preclude insurance companies<br />

from specifying non-OEM parts and to require them to specify only OEM parts instead. C.<br />

14243-44, 14298, 14569-70. <strong>No</strong> state has done so. Many states have held hearings,<br />

conducted investigations, and determined, as a matter of public policy, that the availability<br />

of non-OEM parts promotes the public welfare in their states by reducing repair costs and<br />

insurance premiums, without sacrificing the quality of the repair. R. 9132-33, 9135-39,<br />

9141-42, 9145, 8945-46, 10684-85.<br />

4. The Repair Process. Although State Farm pays for the repair of damaged<br />

vehicles, it does not repair the vehicles itself. Instead, parts are purchased and repairs are<br />

made by local bodyshops selected by policyholders. R. 8443. State Farm works with the<br />

bodyshop, seeking to ensure that a quality repair is made at a reasonable price. R. 8647-48;<br />

DX 209A. Generally, the repair process starts when State Farm inspects the damaged vehicle<br />

5/<br />

Alaska Stat. § 45.45.190 (invoice must identify parts as “new, used, rebuilt, or<br />

reconditioned”; statute silent on non-OEM/OEM distinction), Del. Code Ann. tit. 6, §<br />

4905A(b) (same); 37 Pa. Code § 301.5(8)(vi) (same); Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. tit. 29-A, § 1804<br />

(requires consent for installation of “used, reconditioned or rebuilt” parts; statute silent on<br />

non-OEM/OEM distinction).<br />

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