Consumer Watchdog’s Legal Project attorneys advocate on behalf of consumers before regulatory agencies, the legislature and the courts. For over three decades, Consumer Watchdog attorneys have represented consumers in numerous class actions, civil lawsuits and administrative complaints.
The Legal Project specializes in highly-complex litigation to address abuses in the marketplace like illegal overcharges, false advertising and violation of consumer protection laws. Consumer Watchdog’s Legal Project’s work includes advocating in the areas of access to health care, civil rights, insurance, consumer privacy, environmental justice, government accountability, corporate accountability and other state and federal matters.
Currently Consumer Watchdog is:
Challenging Trump’s Tariffs – Consumer Watchdog is an amici in challenging Trump administration’s use of emergency powers to impose tariffs that exceeded the limits of federal law.
Stopping the Unfair FAIR Plan Surcharge On Policyholders – Our team is fighting to protect policyholders from paying the $500 million in surcharges that California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara illegally imposed on them for the FAIR plan’s losses, which have historically been paid by insurance companies.
Challenging State Farm’s $1.2 Billion Homeowners Rate Hike – Consumer Watchdog is challenging via a state hearing State Farm’s unprecedented and unjustified rate hike on policyholders.
Suing Insurance Commissioner Lara For Punishing Public Participation In Regulatory Hearings – Consumer Watchdog and the Consumer Federation of California Education Foundation filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court challenging Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara’s denial of compensation for their participation in the regulatory process concerning two major regulations he issued last year.
Some of The Consumer Watchdog Legal Project’s most notable accomplishments include:
Settled a privacy case against Zoom alleging the video conferencing platform misrepresented the level of security it offered users. Under the settlement, Washington D.C. consumers may receive financial payments.
Settled two class action lawsuits against Transamerica Life Insurance Company requiring the long-term care insurance company to implement a rate freeze and return hundreds of millions of dollars to policyholders who alleged the company had improperly increased monthly withdrawals from their universal life insurance policies.
Settled a class action lawsuit against Anthem Blue Cross over the “narrow network” issue in which plaintiffs alleged Anthem Blue Cross misrepresented which doctors were participating in its EPO and PPO provider networks. Under the settlement, Anthem Blue Cross provided $15 million in direct payments, an uncapped claims process and significant programmatic relief.
Settled a class action against Anthem Blue Cross for illegally
closing insurance policies and using large rate hikes to force patients into lower-benefit and higher-deductible health coverage – a practice known as the “death spiral.” Relief obtained included a cap on future rate increases and the opportunity for
plan members to switch coverage, without medical underwriting, to any open policy regulated by the California Department of Managed Health Care.
Settled a class action against Anthem Blue Cross for illegally closing insurance policies and using large rate hikes to force patients into lower-benefit and higher-deductible health coverage – a practice known as the “death spiral.” Relief obtained included a cap on future rate increases and the opportunity for plan members to switch coverage, without medical underwriting, to any open policy regulated by the California Department of Managed Health Care.
Obtained an order from the Insurance Commissioner approving a settlement agreement requiring Farmers Insurance to refund $1.2 million in premium overcharges and pay a $2 million fine to the State of California for utilizing improper homeowners insurance underwriting practices.
Successfully blocked insurance rate hike requests by dozens of insurance companies, saving Californians over $3.4 billion since 2003 on their auto, homeowners, earthquake and medical malpractice insurance.
Secured a consumer’s right to enforce the Insurance Code in court under the state’s Unfair Competition Law in a case against Mercury for illegally surcharging drivers without prior insurance.
Settled a class action against the Auto Club requiring the insurer to pay $22.5 million in refunds to policyholders who were overcharged for not having prior insurance, a practice that is prohibited by insurance reform Proposition 103.
Secured a historic $27.5 million fine against Mercury Insurance Company in an administrative enforcement action for charging excessive and unfairly-discriminatory rates by allowing its agents to charge illegal broker fees at the point of sale.
Settled a class action lawsuit against Blue Shield over a similar “narrow network” issue in which plaintiffs alleged Blue Shield misrepresented that specific providers were “in network” under their ACA-compliant health service plans and concealed and failed to disclose the differences between the provider networks available under new ACA-compliant health service plans and the pre-ACA Blue Shield Provider network. The settlement provided more than $18 million in direct payments to consumers and a claims process with an uncapped fund.
Settled six class action lawsuits against Anthem Blue Cross, United Healthcare, Cigna, Anthem, Inc., Coventry Health Care, Inc. and Aetna, Inc. for illegally requiring HIV/AIDS patients to purchase their medications from a mail-order pharmacy, threatening their health and privacy. As a result of the settlements, members prescribed HIV/AIDS medications may purchase their medications at any network pharmacy. Members were also allowed to seek reimbursement for out-of-pocket losses resulting from the mail-order requirement.