Ricardo Lara’s first term was marked by violations of key campaign pledge, other allegations
By Jeff McDonald, SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE
October 9, 2022
https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/watchdog/story/2022-10-09/des…
By Emily Valdes, KNX 1070AM Los Angeles, CA
September 25, 2022
Click here to listen to the audio of this radio broadcast segment.
Harvey Rosenfield, author of Proposition 103 from 1988, tells KNX how insurance companies are using AI and online tracking to collect our private information without our consent and in violation of Prop 103.
By Michael Finney & Randall Yip, KGO ABC TV-7 San Francisco, CA
September 9, 2022
https://abc7news.com/fire-insurance-home-risk-score-danger/12213902/
SAN RAFAEL, Calif. (KGO) -- Homeowners in California who live in a high-risk fire zones could find it easier to get their home policies renewed. That's if new state regulations work as intended. Not everyone is convinced it will work.
Los Angeles, CA – California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara today submitted a long-awaited regulation for final approval that will require insurance companies to provide premium discounts to homeowners who reduce their risk of loss from wildfires. But under the regulations as submitted, homeowners can spend thousands of dollars on wildfire mitigation, reducing their risk, but still lose their coverage or get no break from insura
By Trevor Morgan, SANTA CLARITA VALLEY SIGNAL
August 5, 2022
https://signalscv.com/2022/08/castaic-residents-see-1000-increase-in-fi…
Residents of a Castaic condominium complex are wondering why an estimated 1000% increase to their fire insurance rates would happen in as little as three years, but say answers to this question are hard to come by.
By Staff Reporters, CLAIMS JOURNAL
July 18, 2022
https://www.claimsjournal.com/news/national/2022/07/18/311619.htm
Insurers and consumer advocates are conveying conflicting messages as both try to focus public attention on smoke damage claims.
By Staff Reporters, KNX 1070AM Los Angeles, CA
July 13, 2022
Click here to listen to the audio of this radio broadcast segment.
Harvey Rosenfield with Consumer Watchdog details how their new report shows insurance companies illegally inserting language to allow them to deny wildfire claims.
By Staff Reporters, KCBS 740AM San Francisco, CA
July 13, 2022
Click here to listen to the audio of this radio broadcast segment.
Consumer Watchdog says insurance companies are illegally inserting language into policies to deny wildfire claims.
Los Angeles, CA -- A Consumer Watchdog examination of public filings reveals that insurance companies have inserted provisions into the fine print of their home, condo and renters’ insurance policies that allow them to limit or deny coverage after a wildfire in violation of California law.
By Grace Gedye, CAL MATTERS
May 26, 2022
https://calmatters.org/economy/2022/05/fire-insurance-rules/
IN SUMMARY
New rules proposed by California’s Department of Insurance would require insurers to take homeowners’ efforts to reduce wildfire risk into account when setting premiums. But they would still allow non-renewals.
By David Jerome, IDYLWILD TOWN CRIER
May 25, 2022
The California Department of Insurance (CDI) is rolling out new regulations mandating that insurers in the state offer discounts to policyholders who undertake fire hazard mitigation and structure "hardening." The rules are intended to make decisions about rate and risk more transparent and more tuned to the specific risk of an individual property, as opposed to just the zone it is in.
Insurance Commissioner Lara Must Close Loophole in Regulation Allowing Insurers to Ignore WIldfire Mitigation for Denial or Non-Renewal Decisions
Los Angeles, CA – A regulation proposed by California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara to stop insurance companies from overcharging homeowners who reduce their risk of loss from wildfires must also apply to insurance companies’ decisions about which properties they will insure, consumer groups will testify at a public hearing in Oakland today.
Los Angeles, CA – Consumer Watchdog said a regulation proposed by California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara to require discounts for homeowners who protect their homes from fires is necessary and long overdue -- but falls short when it comes to insurance companies’ non-renewal decisions. As written, the regulation would not require insurance companies to consider home or community mitigation steps when making nonrenewal decisions.
Los Angeles, CA – A new state wildfire protection framework released this week is an empty promise for homeowners if the Insurance Commissioner does not also require that insurance companies give discounts to policyholders who follow its recommendations, said Consumer Watchdog today.
Draft regulations have been under consideration at the Department of Insurance to mandate wildfire mitigation discounts for the past year, yet Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara did not mention the rules or their status when announcing the “Safer From Wildfires” framework this week.
Los Angeles, CA -- The California Supreme Court has refused to review a lower court ruling that stripped the Insurance Commissioner of critical powers granted by California voters to protect against excessive insurance rates.
By Bob Egelko, SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE
February 9, 2022
https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/State-Farm-doesn-t-have-to-…
State Farm Insurance will not have to refund $100 million to homeowners after the state Supreme Court denied appeals Wednesday by California's insurance commissioner and a consumer organization, which both contended the customers had been overcharged.
By Sam Mellins, THE DAILY POSTER
February 7, 2022
https://www.dailyposter.com/what-if-i-cant-insure-my-home-at-all/
Major insurance companies are choosing to protect the fossil fuel industry while abandoning homeowners whose safety and livelihoods are being threatened by the industry’s carbon emissions.
Los Angeles, CA – Consumer Watchdog joined 39 other public interest organizations in comments calling on the Federal Insurance Office to spotlight how the insurance industry contributes to climate change by insuring fossil fuel projects. A 2019 petition on this topic to California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara was denied.
By Jeannie Nguyen, ASSOCIATED PRESS
September 24, 2021
https://apnews.com/article/business-fires-environment-and-nature-crime-…
REDDING, Calif. (AP) — Pacific Gas & Electric has been charged with manslaughter and other crimes in a Northern California wildfire last year that killed four people and destroyed hundreds of homes.
Los Angeles, CA -- A group convened by Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara to investigate insurance-related climate change solutions is recommending he let insurance companies insert secret models into ratemaking, a top deregulatory priority of the industry in California.
Los Angeles, CA -- In a decision that will likely affect California motorists, homeowners, small businesses and even medical providers, the California Supreme Court has ruled that insurance companies are not immune from lawsuits by consumers who were overcharged for title insurance coverage as part of a home refinance or sale.
By Kyle Arnold, THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS
February 19, 2021
https://www.bakersfield.com/ap/national/this-year-s-winter-storm-could-…
DALLAS — The deep freeze and snowfall that paralyzed Texas this week could be the costliest weather event in state history as home and auto claims start to pour in, insurance industry officials warn.
By Lyle Adriano, INSURANCE BUSINESS AMERICA
October 20, 2020
https://www.insurancebusinessmag.com/us/news/catastrophe/consumer-advoc…
Consumer advocate group Consumer Watchdog has issued a statement accusing the insurance industry of “exploiting” the California wildfires for its own financial gain.
Los Angeles, CA -- The insurance industry is exploiting California wildfires for its own financial advantage by arbitrarily refusing to sell or renew homeowners’ insurance coverage, even when people improve the fire safety of their property, Consumer Watchdog testified today at a virtual hearing convened by California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara.
The legislative session is over. I am happy to report that the bad guys didn’t win.
Insurance companies were not able to pass legislation in Sacramento allowing them to raise rates on homeowners in fire zones in violation of strict premium regulation created by voter-approved Prop 103. Thanks to your support, the State Senate refused to pass a dangerous insurance industry-backed bill by Assembly member Tom Daly.
Sacramento, CA -- California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara would investigate and develop solutions to ensure affordable, accessible insurance for homeowners in wildfire areas and report back to the legislature, under amendments to AB 2167 adopted by the Senate Appropriations Committee yesterday. The bill asks the Commissioner to study the models insurance companies use to set home and renters insurance rates, strategies to address problems in the insurance markets, and the price and pass-through of “reinsurance” expenses. The bill now heads for a vote by the full Senate.
The following was originally published as an op-ed commentary in the SACRAMENTO BEE on August 11, 2020: https://www.sacbee.com/opinion/article244870462.html
Three democratic procedures safeguard Californians against hasty and dangerous actions by the California State Legislature:
▪ Every bill gets a legislative hearing.
▪ Committee staff provides an impartial analysis of each bill.
▪ Members of the public are heard.
By Harvey Rosenfield, SPECIAL TO THE SACRAMENTO BEE
August 11, 2020
https://www.sacbee.com/opinion/article244870462.html
Three democratic procedures safeguard Californians against hasty and dangerous actions by the California State Legislature:
▪ Every bill gets a legislative hearing.
▪ Committee staff provides an impartial analysis of each bill.
▪ Members of the public are heard.
Los Angeles, CA -- A national insurance expert and actuary has warned California lawmakers that AB 2167, scheduled for a vote in the Senate Insurance Committee on Tuesday, would raise homeowners’ insurance rates by 40% in the first year it takes effect and make it harder for Californians to find coverage.
(The following was originally published as an op-ed commentary in the Mercury News.)
With Californians in COVID lockdown, industry lobbyists are working to overturn voter-approved consumer protections
August 2, 2020
State lawmakers are preparing a gift for you: a massive increase in the premiums you pay to insure your home and property.
With Californians in COVID lockdown, industry lobbyists are working to overturn voter-approved consumer protections
Op-Ed Commentary by Harvey Rosenfield
August 2, 2020
https://www.mercurynews.com/2020/08/02/opinion-legislators-scheming-wit…
State lawmakers are preparing a gift for you: a massive increase in the premiums you pay to insure your home and property.
You may need to update your policies in light of COVID-19
By Daniel Bortz, KIPLINGER'S MAGAZINE
July 30, 2020
https://www.kiplinger.com/personal-finance/insurance/601097/time-for-an…
By MACKENZIE HAWKINS, CAPITOL ALERT - SACRAMENTO BEE
June 10, 2020
https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article24…
After several years of catastrophic burns — and the insurance industry pulling back from some fire-prone communities — many California homeowners will face the upcoming fire season without proper coverage.
Los Angeles, CA – Consumer Watchdog warned today that homeowners could pay billions more for their home insurance under a sneak insurance industry legislative attack on California’s effective rate regulation under the cover of the corona virus and police abuse crises.
Sacramento, CA – The Assembly Insurance Committee voted today to allow insurance companies to raise rates on homeowners and renters in violation of voter-approved Proposition 103. The bills would force unjustified insurance rate hikes onhomeowners in the very communities devastated by wildfires that they purport to help, said Consumer Watchdog.
Los Angeles, CA — While the rest of the state is sheltering at home, lobbyists for the insurance industry are busy promoting legislation, scheduled for a hearing tomorrow, that would allow them to boost insurance rates on homeowners and renters.
By Chris Taylor, MONEY
April 13, 2020
https://money.com/heres-how-to-figure-out-the-amount-of-homeowners-insu…
Here’s some advice for new homeowners figuring out how much insurance coverage to buy: Think back to the popular childhood fable, and keep the Goldilocks Principle in mind: Not too much, not too little, but just right.
Los Angeles, CA– Today the Consumer Federation of America reports that Proposition 103, the insurance reform law passed by California voters on November 8, 1988, has saved drivers $154 billion on their auto insurance.
San Francisco, CA – The nonprofit consumer group responsible for the most effective regulation of the insurance industry in America said today it would be challenging America’s insurance companies to join their European counterparts in refusing to underwrite coal and fossil fuel projects.
The wildfires devastating Bel Air, Ventura and Southern California's canyons are destroying homes in their path. Unfortunately, many of those homeowners are going to find that when they try to rebuild their homeowners' policies may not cover the real costs.
It's a sad cycle that happens after too many wildfires, include the historic devastation fires wrought recently in Sonoma and Napa Valley.