| | Ohio Dept of Insurance - Director Womer Benjamin Praises Court Ruling Protecting Ohio`s Insurance Consumers (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-22) |
 | | A national class action against Progressive could have seriously impacted Ohio consumers in the form of higher premiums — because of Progressive’s large market share (they are the third-largest auto insurer in the country), reversing the lower court’s decision against a class action could have destabilized the broader auto insurance market. |
 | | Augustus filed a lawsuit and sought class action status in 1999, accusing Progressive of not fulfilling its contractual duty to return his vehicle to “pre-loss condition” because the insurer allowed the use of two non-OEM (original equipment manufacturer) parts. |
 | | Ohio law allows the use of non-OEM parts, known as generic or aftermarket parts, and requires insurers and repair facilities to notify a consumer when an estimate for repairs is based in whole or in part on the use of non-OEM parts. |
| www.ohioinsurance.gov /Newsroom/scripts/PrintableVersion.asp?ReleaseID=1303 (367 words) |