Sept. 15, 2014—The Automotive Recyclers Association (ARA) recently sent a letter to Louisiana Attorney General James D. “Buddy” Caldwell to dispute claims he made in a recent lawsuit filed against State Farm Insurance.

The ARA said Caldwell makes “mischaracterizations and disparaging statements” when he commented on State Farm’s use of replacement parts. In his comments at a press conference following the filing of the suit, Caldwell said, “In some cases, we’ve found that these parts are nothing more than junk yard parts.”

“The Attorney General’s statement leads consumers to believe that salvaged/recycled automotive parts are unsafe and inferior to new original equipment manufacturer (OEM) parts,” the ARA said in a statement. “Recycled genuine original OEM parts meet OEM requirements. They are OEM parts, designed by the OEM, and built to meet the OEM requirements for fit, finish, durability, reliability and safety. Attorney General Caldwell's mischaracterization of recycled automotive parts does a disservice to consumers in Louisiana by seeking to limit their access to safe, affordable and environmentally friendly automobile repairs.”

The ARA also pointed out in its Sept. 8 letter that the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals “recently affirmed the use of salvage/recycled OEM crash parts in vehicle repairs.”

"The West Virginia ruling is a significant step forward for the professional automotive recycling industry and the increased utilization of genuine, recycled OEM parts," said ARA CEO Michael E. Wilson. "Regrettably, not all state attorneys general have done their homework and educated themselves about our industry and the critical role that recycled OEM automotive parts play in the market."