Recent
News Release
5/17/2013
John M. Simpson or Carmen Balber
SANTA MONICA, CA – Consumer Watchdog’s top-rated mobile application is now available on phones using the Android operating system, which will allow consumers to petition Congress for stronger online privacy laws on Google’s own platform, the group announced today. The app’s featured action is an email to US Senators in support of “Do Not Track Me” online...
News Release
5/17/2013
Liza Tucker
SANTA MONICA, CA –A green light that Tesoro’s purchase of BP’s big refinery in Carson complies with anti-trust laws means over time gas prices will go up in the state, Consumer Watchdog said today. The approval by the Federal Trade Commission and California Attorney General of Tesoro’s acquisition of BP’s Carson refinery and 800 ARCO stations in the Southwest...
Blog Post
5/16/2013
By John M. Simpson
Eight members of Congress have sent a letter to Google CEO Larry Page asking tough and necessary questions about the Internet giant's new wearable computing device, Google Glass.
The letter from members of the Bipartisan Privacy Caucus, whose Co-chairman is conservative Joe Barton, (R-TX), says, "As members of the Congressional Bipartisan Privacy Caucus, we are curious whether this new...
Blog Post
5/16/2013
By John M. Simpson
Eight members of Congress have sent a letter to Google CEO Larry Page asking tough and necessary questions about the Internet giant's new wearable computing device, Google Glass.
The letter from members of the Bipartisan Privacy Caucus, whose Co-chairman is conservative Joe Barton, (R-TX), says, "As members of the Congressional Bipartisan Privacy Caucus, we are curious whether this new...
Blog Post
5/3/2013
Kathy Olsen, Special to Consumer Watchdog
Since 1975 the value of everything has gone up, except the value of my son’s life under California law.
Yesterday my son, Steven and I went to Sacramento to say “38 years is too late.” We announced a ballot initiative to create stronger patient safety laws and adjust this nearly 38 year-old law. You can join our efforts by reading our story and others of patients like us...
Blog Post
5/1/2013
By John M. Simpson
Microsoft, which is trying to position itself in a major advertising campaign as a privacy friendly Internet company, should take a simple step that shows it means what it says.
Online tracking is pervasive and invasive on the Internet. The most insidious is performed by companies that most consumers don't even know exist, so-called 3rd parties on the websites you chose to visit....
News Release
5/17/2013
John M. Simpson or Carmen Balber
SANTA MONICA, CA – Consumer Watchdog’s top-rated mobile application is now available on phones using the Android operating system, which will allow consumers to petition Congress for stronger online privacy laws on Google’s own platform, the group announced today. The app’s featured action is an email to US Senators in support of “Do Not Track Me” online...
News Release
5/17/2013
Liza Tucker
SANTA MONICA, CA –A green light that Tesoro’s purchase of BP’s big refinery in Carson complies with anti-trust laws means over time gas prices will go up in the state, Consumer Watchdog said today. The approval by the Federal Trade Commission and California Attorney General of Tesoro’s acquisition of BP’s Carson refinery and 800 ARCO stations in the Southwest...
News Release
5/15/2013
John M. Simpson
SANTA MONICA – A recent change in the way Google presents its privacy policy violates the California Online Privacy Protection Act (CalOPPA) and the policy is “fundamentally deceptive,” Consumer Watchdog told Attorney General Kamala Harris.
“You have been a leader in the fight to protect Californians’ privacy, a right that is enshrined in our State Constitution,...
Legal Update
3/25/2013
By Pam Pressley
Our Legal Team had a busy week last week, with two big auto insurance rate victories and significant steps forward in our legal cases against insurance company abuses. Here are some highlights of our accomplishments just this past week:
1) Slashed Farmers' requested auto rate increase in half from 6.9% to 3.5%
2) Lowered So Cal Auto Club auto insurance rates by -4.1%
3)...
Legal Update
2/20/2013
By Laura Antonini
Last Thursday, February 14, Federal District Court Judge George H. Wu held an initial hearing on class action lawsuits filed against Hyundai and Kia across the country for falsifying gas mileage estimates. The lawsuits were sent to Judge Wu’s court in response to a petition filed by the Consumer Watchdog legal team, whose year long investigation of consumer complaints first exposed the...
Legal Update
2/13/2013
By Laura Antonini
Federal District Court Judge George H. Wu will hold his first hearing Thursday in the litigation over the MPG fraud by Hyundai and Kia. You can read the details of our latest lawsuit -- airing the complaints consumers across America who were victims on the fraud.
Last week, Consumer Watchdog’s request to centralize all cases against Hyundai and Kia for misrepresenting vehicle...
Video
5/14/2013
DTSC Chief Deputy Director Odette Madriago steps down just weeks after NBC Bay Area uncovered a stock portfolio full of investments into companies the department regulates.
Investigative Reporter Vicky Nguyen reports in an investigation that aired on May 13, 2013.
See the original source page here:
http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/DTSC-Second-In-Command-Steps-Down-2...
Video
5/3/2013
Family members and victims of medical negligence held a press conference in front of the state capitol to announce a patient safety ballot measure that will lift a nearly 38-year-old cap on victims’ recovery signed by Governor Brown in 1975.
Video
5/2/2013
Victims of medical negligence went to Sacramento Thursday to demand changes to a 38 year old law that has denied them justice and announced a ballot measure to lift a $250,000 cap on recovery set in 1975 by Governor Brown in his first term.
Success Stories
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Consumer Watchdog's founder led the 1988 voter revolt against insurers that passed Proposition 103 and saved Californians billions.
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We drove Congress to place a ban on HMOs discharging newborns and their mothers from the hospital 8 hours after birth.
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We beat a deceptive campaign funded by one of America's wealthiest men, ending insurers’ redlining of poor neighborhoods.
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