GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (May 21, 2014) — Dee Popovic says her teenager’s Jeep was damaged by a West Michigan landscape management company, and the company should pay to repair the damage.
The mom contacted The Fox 17 Problem Solvers and she said DJ’s Landscape Management stopped communicating with her about the incident.
It was May 8, 2014, and Dee Popovic’s teenage daughter was on her way to get school pictures taken. The girl’s Jeep was stopped at a stop sign at the corner of Dean Lake Avenue and Ter Van Drive in Grand Rapids when a DJ’s mower backed into the Jeep.
An estimate Popovic showed FOX 17 puts the repairs at more than $1600. Repairs that would be covered by insurance minus the $500 deductible.
Popovic said she’s had trouble getting in contact with a representative from the company to follow up on the claim, a claim that is echoed by an incident report filed with the Grand Rapids Police Department. The two-page report ends with the sentence, “Both shared information so the landscape company could cover expenses.”
Since then, says Popovic, DJ’s has not paid anything for repairs. “I insisted, and I insisted, and I insisted and basically was just put through into the voicemail,” she said.
When we stopped by DJ’s last week, we were told the company had just received the police report, and they told us to come back the following week. The following day, Popovic said, someone from DJ’s called her and said company will not pay for any damages.
When we went back to DJ’s again, we found the owner.
“Hello my name is DJ,” he said as he opened the door to the lobby. He then looked at the FOX 17 photographer and said, “You can stay there.”
I introduced myself and asked, referring to the photographer, “He can’t come in?”
“I just want to talk with you,” said DJ, as he forcibly took the microphone from my hand and set it down on a chair in the lobby. A ten minute conversation then took place behind the closed door.
The owner told me he was still working with the insurance company and denied that anyone told Popovic the matter was closed.
He said whenever his staff does speak with Popovic she can be hostile at times. He also said it was too early for anyone to expect a resolution.
Popovic said she just wants the company to do what she considers right and what was indicated in the police report.
“Ball’s in their court,” she said. “They are not saying anything. They are waiting for me to go away.”
Michigan is a no-fault insurance state. We asked a local State Farm agent how that would come into play for this incident. The agent told us ‘no-fault’ means that each party’s insurance is responsible for the damages to their respective vehicle. That does not cover the deductible and could increase your premium.
The agent said the door is open for civil action, but Popovic is hopeful it can be resolved without the courts involvement.
