Leif Hansen (businessman) explained

Leif Christopher Hansen (born 1957) is the founder and owner of a chain of auto body shops, Leif's Auto Collision Centers.[1]

History

Leif Hansen was born in Bellingham, Washington and raised in Oahu, Hawaii. In 1986, he opened a Honolulu body and repair shop called Pristine Coachworks. In 1990, Hansen moved to Portland in order to invest in a new type of auto body shop. In 1991, he opened Olympic Auto, a one-man auto-body company that served about 80 cars per year.[2] By 1999, the company had grown so much that the organization split into two separate entities - Olympic Auto Body and Paint and Leif's Auto Collision Centers.[3] As of 2005, Leif's Auto Collision Centers' flagship shop in Tigard employed 70 people and handled over 4,000 cars a year.[4]

Political Action

In 1994, Hansen went to Oregon Legislature to protect consumers from illegal steering practices, after recognizing that several autobody repair shops were paying kickbacks to insurance companies in exchange for referrals.[5]

In 2005, Hansen founded a consumer-focused political action committee, Oregonians for Safe Auto Repair (OSAR) to push for legislative changes.[6] In June 2007, OSAR was successful in passing Oregon Senate Bill 523-A. On June 20, 2007, Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski signed the bill with Hansen present, and on January 1. 2008, the Bill officially became Oregon law.[7] The law requires insurance companies to inform consumers that they have the legal right to choose where their vehicle is repaired. Insurance companies must inform consumers of their rights prior to making a recommendation for a repair provider. The law also prevents insurance companies from limiting reimbursement when consumers choose a repair provider without a referral from the insurance company.[8]

Class Action Law Suits

Leif's Auto Collision Centers v. Oregon Mutual et. al

Hansen's company went to court against Oregon Mutual and Grange Insurance due to antitrust activities in relation to price requirements on repairs. The case was referred by the United States District Court for the District of Oregon to be a part of the nationwide antitrust suit (A&E BODY SHOP INC. et al. v. 21ST CENTURY CENTENNIAL INSURANCE COMPANY et al.) against some of America's largest insurance companies including Progressive, Hartford, and Allstate.[9] [10]

Community Involvement

In 2011, Leif's Autobody and Collision was the primary sponsor for the 20th Annual Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in Portland, Oregon.[11] Hansen's efforts helped the foundation raise over $2.5 million in just two days[12]

External links

Notes and References

  1. http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/1997/02/17/story5.html Body shops resent insurers auto HMOs.
  2. Budnick, Nick and B. Hartley. "Leif's Auto Body Experience" Willamette Weekly, Nov 2005.
  3. McNamara, Brian [ftp://ftp.odot.state.or.us/Region1_Projects/16150_OR213_Intersection_Improvements/Archive_K16150/Draft_DAP_K16150_20140915/Volume%201/Appendix%20F%20-%20Environmental%20Documentation.pdf "Hazardous Materials Corridor Assessment"] Oregon Department of Transportation, September 2013.
  4. Budnick, Nick and B. Hartley. "Leif's Auto Body Experience" Willamette Weekly, November 2005.
  5. Harbor, Mike. "Crash Talk Podcast: Leif Hansen" "Crash Talk Podcast." 23 October 2010. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  6. Harbor, Mike. "Crash Talk Podcast: Leif Hansen" "Crash Talk Podcast." 23 October 2010. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  7. Prozanski. "74th Oregon Legislative Assembly - 2007 Regular Session." Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  8. Albright, Brian. "Anti-Steering Bill Passes in Oregon" Autobody Repair News, July 2007. Vol. 46 Issue 7, p12
  9. http://www.repairerdrivennews.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Liefs-v-State-Farm-20141107-complaint.pdf "LEIF'S AUTO COLLISION CENTERS v. STATE FARM et al."
  10. http://www.repairerdrivennews.com/2015/04/02/auto-insurers-lose-as-oregon-body-shops-antitrust-case-transferred-to-fla/ "Auto Insurers Lowe as Oregon Body Shop's Antitrust Case is Transferred to Florida."
  11. http://www.katu.com/amnw/segments/127315443.html?m=y&smobile=y "Leif's Auto Collision & Service Centers Joins Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure."
  12. Harbarger, M. "Portland Race for the Cure mixes frivolity with breast cancer awareness" "Oregon Live" 18 September 2011. Accessed 24 April 2015.