Allstate Insurance Co. has filed an application for garnishment in the United States District Court in and for the Western District of Washington in the amount of $726,700.53 against Auto Glass Express Inc., Premier Auto Glass LLC, owner Michael Perkins and co-owner Trena Perkins for restitution of insurance fraud.
According to the application, counsel for Allstate says, "Plaintiff has a judgment wholly or partially unsatisfied, against the defendant, in the court from which the writ is being sought. The amount alleged to be due is the balance of the judgment or amount of claim, $726,700.53, plus interest and estimated garnishment costs as indicated in the writ."
The garnishment results from a default judgment handed down in Allstate's civil suit against the Perkins in June 2011 ordering payment of $726,000 to Allstate and an August 2011 order calling for the plaintiffs to pay $1.6 million in restitution to State Farm Insurance, Allstate and Metropolitan Property & Casualty Insurance Co. Allstate is requesting garnishment in the amount of the ordered repayment.
Allstate filed a fraud suit against the couple in January 2011 alleging that in multiple cases they billed (and were paid for) OEM glass, while actually "purchasing and installing aftermarket windshields," according to court documents.
Previously, the Washington state insurance commissioner's office had filed criminal charges against Michael Perkins for related allegations involving Allstate, State Farm and MetLife in July 2010.
Perkins was sentenced to spend nine months in a work release program with 240 hours of community service in addition to the restitution payments in relation to the theft charges.
Allstate is being represented by Jennifer P. Dinning and Rick J. Wathen of Cole, Wathen, Leid & Hall P.C. based in Seattle.
Neither Allstate nor its counsel had responded to request for comment at press time.
