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A court has certified a Class of Oregon drivers involved in a lawsuit that alleges Farmers Insurance failed to comply with state insurance requirements.
While the website is live, it is not accepting claims yet. Top Class Actions will provide claim filing instructions as soon as they become available.
Meanwhile, viewers will receive an email notice when this article is updated with more information by using a free Top Class Actions account and clicking the “Follow Article” button at the top of the post.
A website has been established to inform Class Members about their rights under the class action lawsuit.
Individuals who purchased an auto insurance policy from Farmers Insurance Company of Oregon between June 29, 2012 and Nov. 30, 2016, are considered Class Members.
The Farmers Insurance class action lawsuit estimates that the Class includes 328,000 policyholders who are owed money by Farmers.
Plaintiff Steven Bellshaw filed a class action lawsuit against Farmers Insurance, claiming that the company failed to provide their Oregon policyholders with a notice that complies with ORS 746.280 and 746.290.
These state statutes require insurance companies to include statements approved by the Insurance Commissioner. Both statutes require every issued and renewed policy to include the following: “Oregon laws prohibits us from requiring you to get repairs to your vehicle at a particular motor vehicle repair shop. You have the right to select the motor vehicle repair shop of your choice.”
Farmers Insurance reportedly has a “Circle of Dependability” (COD) program through which it refers its customers to repair shops with approved repairs. The insurance company reportedly claimed that its COD program would take the burden off of customers when looking for repair estimates, relieve the need to be present for inspection, ensure that the Farmer’s warranty would be honored, and more.
However, Bellshaw claimed that this program is self-serving. Through this COD program, the company allegedly “administers and controls the repair process by limiting approved repairs, mandating the use of inferior replacement parts, and limiting the amount of labor and labor rates that participating shops may charge.”
ORS 746.280 requires further states that when an insurance company recommends a repair shop to a policyholder, it must inform the insured within three days of the recommendation, that the vehicle “will receive repairs returning it to a pre-loss condition relative to safety, function and appearance.”
Despite having a specialized COD program, Farmers Insurance allegedly failed to include these statements in a notice with Oregon insurance policies, thus violating state law.
Bellshaw also claims that Farmers fails to restore damages vehicle to pre-loss condition as is required by Oregon statutes.
“Farmers’ imposes these conditions upon the COD shops as a means of saving Farmers’ money on repair costs, even though the use of these techniques may negatively impact the quality, value and safety of the repaired vehicles and ensures that those vehicles are not returned to their pre-loss condition,” the Farmers Insurance class action lawsuit states.
The plaintiff is seeking a payment of $100 for each Class Member, but not actual damages.
A settlement has not yet been reached, but Class Members are encouraged to keep an eye on the informational website as it will be updated if/when Claim Forms become available.
Farmers Insurance denies the class action allegations and the case is still moving through the court.
The Class of Oregon Farmers Insurance drivers are represented by David Sugerman, Tim Quenelle and Amy Johnson.
The Farmers Insurance Class Action Lawsuit is Bellshaw v. Farmers Insurance Company of Oregon, Case No. 15-cv-16877, in the Circuit Court for the State of Oregon, County of Multnomah.
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27 thoughts onOregon Farmers Insurance Policyholders Get Class Action Certified
Class actions lawsuits are a joke, the people who sign up for them rarely get a dime, the attorneys take all the money. Example Target Class Action lawsuit did not pay out until over six years after the settlement agreement. The State of California which had nothing to do with the class action stepped in and took hundreds of millions of dollars. This left the class with practically nothing after the lawyers took the rest. Then they did not want to pay the class their piddly check until six more years passed. Farmers contacted me in a emailed claiming that I was part of the class of Bellshaw vs. Farmers. I cancelled Farmers Insurance after paying them for over 40 years and never filing a claim, and having a perfect ticket accident record. Farmers did not care and continued to up my insurance premium every six months, and then claiming that the State of Oregon was making my insurance go up. I had towing and after using the towing three times, they cancelled my towing benefit. I then fired Farmers and went to Geico. I am paying considerably less for my insurance and geico has not raised my insurance. My landrover rolled out of a parking space and hit a Rangerover. I paid nothing and my insurance did not go up because Geico gave me accident forgiveness. All those years of paying Farmers and they never gave me accident forgiveness or even recognized my perfect driving record.
I have had Farmers insurance since I was 16 years old and this year I will be 60 so I know I had them during this time frame. I hope you can add me to the law suit I still have the letter they sent me about the class action suit. My name is Anna Moody.
Bellshaw v. Farmers Ins. Co. of Oregon, MCCC 15CV16877 (A167554) (2018) Defeated defendant’s attempt to obtain an interlocutory appeal of the trial court’s favorable summary judgment ruling in class action alleging violations of Oregon’s anti-steering law. Following entry of a final judgment in favor of the plaintiff, the defendant appealed. Appeal currently pending (A173722)
The Website is no longer active, so take this information and contact this court for information on this lawsuit. Appeals take a long time.
Add me
Where is the MONEY?????
Haven’t heard Anything in over a year. Still waiting on settlement?
Rick D , I haven’t heard anything either for over a year! Patti V.
Bellshaw v. Farmers Ins. Co. of Oregon, MCCC 15CV16877 (A167554) (2018) Defeated defendant’s attempt to obtain an interlocutory appeal of the trial court’s favorable summary judgment ruling in class action alleging violations of Oregon’s anti-steering law. Following entry of a final judgment in favor of the plaintiff, the defendant appealed. Appeal currently pending (A173722)
Been following this over 1 year with absolutely no updates. When will this settle?
Did this ever settle?
Did this get settled and I was never notified, or is it a on going case?
Add me please
Please add me