MQVP COMPLAINT

In its complaint filed in the Federal District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan December 1, 2006, MQVP Inc. asserts that Keystone violated MQVP's registered trademarks by the distribution of parts outside of the MQVP program . Keystone, who was a program member for several years, dealt in parts not tracked or certified as MQVP® program parts, distributing those parts as if they were actual MQVP® parts. Such misrepresentation would violate the MQVP trademarks, and cause body shops and vehicle owners to mistakenly believe the parts shipped by Keystone possess the quality certification, safety, and warranty characteristics as actual MQVP® parts certified and traced in the program. Keystone abruptly quit the program in November.

The charges against Keystone include false designation, false advertising, unfair trade practices, unfair competition, breach of contract, intentional interference with business expectancy, and violations of the California Business and Professions Code. MQVP Inc. requests an injunction to prevent further infringements, delivery of the misrepresented parts for destruction, and damages in excess of $20 million. While the ITC ruling in favor of Ford covers about ten specific parts for the F-150, MQVP® certification covers hundreds of part numbers, and more than a dozen manufacturers .

MQVP's suit was filed shortly before the ITC ruling against Keystone, and served upon Keystone on December 11. Keystone has not yet filed a response with the court, nor provided a public acknowledgement of the action .

(See Headlines)

COLLISION REPAIR INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION URGES CHANGES IN ENVIRONMENT CANADA PROPOSALS

Federal government is recommending significant changes in auto refinish coatings

December 15, 2006

The Hamilton District Autobody Repair Association (HARA) has been involved with stakeholder discussions with coatings firms, regulators and others relating to the proposal to reduce the VOC content in auto refinishing coatings product.  The association has held a number of open opportunities for discussion with the industry including a presentation on September 30 at the National Trades Centre (Direct Energy Centre), Exhibition Place and a recent workshop in London on November 29.  Over 125 industry attendees learned at the London workshop what impact these proposals may generate at their shops and how best to operate an environmentally friendly repair shop.  Further industry workshops are planned in Halton region in February and Toronto in March 2007. 

Anthony Nigro, President of the non-profit trade association said, " Our association is very active in environmental issues in auto refinish and we continue to try and assist member shops to meet or exceed environmental compliance requirements. To date, we have helped over 500 shops with their environmental permitting requirements using our simplified and much cheaper streamlined application format."

HARA has submitted a stakeholder brief to Environment Canada relating to proposed VOC emission reduction regulations in auto refinish coatings product.  They have identified 10 major recommendations. 

They are:

1) That a 2-kiloton VOC emission reduction can be achieved through voluntary measures

2) That should regulation be deemed appropriate, a stop manufacture date of January 1, 2009 and a stop sale date of Dec 31, 2010

3) Grants or incentives be made available to shops to offset changeover costs

4) A human resources package to assist in job placement and retraining be initiated for shop personnel that are made unemployed

5) Insurance companies only pay auto refinish claims to facilities that are environmentally compliant

6) An environmental fund be established with money generated by coatings firms to provide changeover funding for special clients

7) Mobile operators/applicators not be exempted from the regulations

8) Aerosol containers not be exempted from the regulations

9) Environment Canada set aside funds for enforcement particularly falsified use issues and smugglers

10) A co-operative effort with provincial governments to provide "template" permitting and ease of use and costs in new permitting.

For further information on the submission please call
1-866-309-4272 or info@ciia.com

For information on Environment Canada's plans, copies of presentations and draft documents, please see www.autobodyhelp.ca

(See Headlines)

HAMILTON AREA SHOPS HIT THE $60.00 DOOR RATE LEVEL

December 11, 2006

Shop labour rates for Hamilton, Ontario collision repair shops continue to grow upwards, identifying a trend that Mitchell International shows in their last report.

Signs are now posted in some large company owned shops in the City showing a customer labour rate charge of $60.00 per hour for body, frame and refinish labour and a $28.00 per hour rate for paint and coatings materials

In June 2005, the local trade association, HARA, posted a series of recommended door labour rates that shops were under no compulsion to follow or observe. That rate was identified at $55.00 per hour and is available for review at:

http://www.ciia.com/provinces /ontario/pricingrec.html

Labour door rates continue to increase across Ontario. A November 2006 rate survey in the Windsor areas showed a door labour rate between $56.90 and $58.90 per hour.

A number of large repair facility are dropping their discounted DRP insurance programs because of low referral numbers of cars been sent to them, and their functional door rates rise once the discounts are removed. Many shops have take this action to end the prospect of having to offer State Farm Insurance, under their new program, further discounts to match those discounts being supplied to low-volume insurers.

Also coming soon is an energy surcharge to help cover the shop's expenses in honouring the increasingly higher electric and natural gas costs.

For more information on the energy surcharge, please inquire with your local collision repair trade association at
1-866-309-4272 or info@ciia.com

(See Headlines)

HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO GET $$$$ FOR UNUSED PARTS, VEHICLES AND SUPPLIES?

Still have that old bumper, hood or part that the supplier won't take back?

Looking for someone to take that extra stock of supplies off your hands?

How about selling that vehicle that has been taking up space on your lot for far too long?

Are you tired of spending the majority of your profits on advertising?

If you have answered yes to any or all of these questions you should contact us immediately.  Our Collision Repair Industry website had over 364,000 in October 2006.  For as little as $25.00/month, a third of the cost of advertising in the local newspapers, the customers you're looking for will see your items.

Contact 1-866-309-4272 or info@ciia.com for more information on how you can place an ad with us.  An ad THAT WILL BE SEEN .

(See Headlines)

Top Ten Steps To A Safer And More Profitable Shop (20 pages)

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Autobody Profitability Workbook (82 pages)

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Issues Facing The Canadian Collision Repair Industry (39 pages)

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