Massachusetts, Settlement gives bikers refunds

By GEORGE GRAHAM
ggraham@repub.com
SPRINGFIELD - More than 5,400 motorcycle owners in Hampshire and Hampden counties have a little extra riding-around money thanks to a settlement with six insurance companies made by the state Attorney General's office.

The average refund is a little over $263 and it tallies to over $1.4 million in the two counties, according to a press released issued by Attorney General Martha M. Coakley.

Some of that money will go a long way. In the two counties, 257 riders are slated to get checks in the mail ranging from $1,000 to $6,554, Coakley said.

The settlements are part of an industrywide investigation that the attorney general's office began in the fall of 2008 after receiving a complaint from the owner of a Harley-Davidson.

To date, that investigation has required twelve insurance companies to agree to return more than $33.8 million to Massachusetts motorcycle riders.

According to Coakley, the six insurance companies just completed the process of sending more than $17.5 million to motorcycle owners across the state who are eligible for payments under settlements that the Attorney General's Office reached with the insurers earlier this year.

The companies are: Arbellla Mutual, Metropolitan P&C, Plymouth Rock Assurance, Pilgrim Insurance, Hanover Insurance and Norfolk & Dedham.

The settlements relate to allegations that the insurers overcharged tens of thousands of Massachusetts motorcyclists by using inflated motorcycle values to calculate insurance premiums