Consumer Watchdog

Sacramento Reaches MICRA Deal

By Victoria Colliver, POLITICO PRO

April 27, 2022

California’s nearly 50-year-old medical malpractice compensation limits may soon be increased as part of a deal announced Wednesday that could end a decadeslong fight that’s pitted doctors and insurance companies against patients and families seeking justice in the courtroom for wrongful injuries or deaths.

California’s Malpractice Payouts Would Rise Under A Deal To Avoid A Costly Ballot Fight

By Melody Gutierrez, LOS ANGELES TIMES

April 27, 2022

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-04-27/california-malpract…

SACRAMENTO — Cash payments in California medical malpractice cases would go up for the first time in nearly five decades under a deal between rival interest groups announced Wednesday that avoids a costly battle at the ballot box in November. 

US Gas Prices Are Over $4 A Gallon. These Oil CEOs Took Home Over $20 Million

Oil and gas CEOs received nearly $45m more in combined total compensation in 2021 compared to 2020 amid a spike in prices

By Iffah Kitchlew, THE GUARDIAN UK

April 25, 2022

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/apr/25/us-gas-prices-oil-c…

While gas prices soar for consumers, one group of people isn’t faring so badly.

California Bill Setting Greater Disclosures on Insurance Department Bottled Up in Committee

By Timothy Darragh, BestWire

April 22, 2022

A bill requiring greater disclosure between California Department of Insurance personnel and insurance companies and other measures failed to get out of a state House committee, virtually dooming them for this legislative session.

The California House Insurance Committee held AB 2323 without a recommendation.

Inflation Means A Bay Area Resident Will Spend $4,400 More For The Same Stuff This Year

By Kellie Hwang, SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE

April 12, 2022

https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/san-francisco-inflation-170…

Buying pretty much anything in the Bay Area is generally more expensive, but adding rising inflation into the mix has made things even harder.

Just the thought of filling up the gas tank at $6 a gallon can induce anxiety. 

New Lawsuit Against SD Plastic Surgeon Charged In Patient's Death

By Jennifer Kastner, KGTV ABC TV-10 San Diego, CA

April 7, 2022

https://www.10news.com/news/team-10/new-lawsuit-against-sd-plastic-surg…

SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — A Bonita plastic surgeon who's charged with involuntary manslaughter in a patient's death is coming under fire again. This time it's over a different patient. He's still allowed to practice without notifying patients.

Newsom Unveils Bottle Recycling Plan

By Dustin Gardiner, SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE

April 6, 2022

https://www.sfchronicle.com/politics/article/Newsom-proposal-California…

SACRAMENTO -- Gov. Gavin Newsom's administration unveiled a $330 million proposal Friday that aims to breathe new life into California's ailing bottle deposit program by opening up thousands more locations where consumers can redeem empty bottles and cans for their nickel and dime deposits. 

Ex-LA City Attorney’s Office Lawyer Pleads Guilty In DWP Billing Case

By City News Service, THE DAILY NEWS OF LOS ANGELES

April 5, 2022

https://www.dailynews.com/2022/04/05/ex-la-city-attorneys-office-lawyer…

LOS ANGELES — A former senior lawyer in the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office pleaded guilty Tuesday to a federal charge connected to lawsuits involving the 2014 Department of Water and Power billing system debacle.

KNX 1070 AM Los Angeles, CA: LADWP Billing Scandal Meeting Report Implicates City Attorney Mike Feuer's Involvement

By Natalie Savidian, KNX 1070 AM Los Angeles, CA

April 5, 2022

Click here to listen to the audio of this radio broadcast segment.

Jamie Court with Consumer Watchdog calls for Mike Feuer to explain why he shouldn't resign after the explosive report implicating him as present in an LADWP extortion scandal meeting. 

S.F. Bottle Recycling Program Draws Ire Of Advocacy Groups

By Dustin Gardiner and J.D. Morris, SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE

April 5, 2022

https://www.sfchronicle.com/politics/article/sf-bottle-recycling-170525…

When San Francisco launched its mobile recycling program at the start of the year, city officials hailed the "first-of-its-kind" effort as a way to make recycling easier for consumers struggling to redeem their empty cans and bottles for 5- and 10-cent deposits. 

Consumer Watchdog To Crack Down On Connected Car Tech In California

By Jonathan Lopez, GM AUTHORITY

April 1, 2022

https://gmauthority.com/blog/2022/04/consumer-watchdog-to-crack-down-on…

As modern passenger vehicles adopt the latest in connected vehicle technologies, there is a growing concern that new connected car tech may be used to unfairly target consumers and breach citizens’ right to privacy, as outlined in a new report from the non-profit organization Consumer Watchdog.

SPYING CARS

By Susannah Luthi, POLITICO PRO

March 30, 2022

SPYING CARS: According to a new report from Consumer Watchdog, car companies are collecting and sharing a growing amount of drivers' personal data, Luthi writes.

How To Stop Insurance Companies and Automakers From Stealing California Driver’s Privacy

By Lynn Walford, AUTO CONNECTED CAR NEWS

March 30, 2022

https://www.autoconnectedcar.com/2022/03/how-to-stop-insurance-companie…

Jamie Court from Consumer Watch dog writes, carmakers and auto insurance companies are trying to track your every movement in your car and use that information against you.  Now Californians have a chance to stop them.

Report from California Watchdog Group Calls for Privacy Protections from Connected Cars

By Staff Reporters, INSURANCE JOURNAL

March 30, 2022

https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/west/2022/03/30/660471.htm

A new report from a consumer group calls out what it says are privacy problems posed for consumers from connected cars and it points to new rules to be developed in California as a potential model across the country.

Auto-Delete State Workers’ Emails? Some Departments Scrap Records In As Little As 90 Days

By Wes Venteicher, SACRAMENTO BEE

March 23, 2022

https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/the-state-worker/articl…

When the California Department of Insurance announced a plan to start deleting employees’ emails automatically after 180 days, an employee raised concerns that had nothing to do with scandals at the top of the department.

KNX 1070 AM Los Angeles, CA: Consumer Watchdog Says Oil Refiners Need To Open Their Books

By Mike Simpson and Charles Feldman - IN DEPTH - KNX 1070 AM Los Angeles, CA

March 18, 2022

Click here to listen to the audio of this radio broadcast segment.

Jamie Court with Consumer Watchdog explains how the big 5 oil refiners who own 96% of the market are profiteering on California consumers and should have to open their books. 

Class Action Lawsuit Filed In San Diego Federal Court Over Chrysler Minivans' Recall, Fire Risk Defect

By Staff Reporters, KGTV ABC TV-10 San Diego, CA

March 22, 2022

https://www.10news.com/news/local-news/class-action-lawsuit-filed-in-sa…

SAN DIEGO (CNS) - A class action lawsuit was filed in San Diego federal court against Chrysler regarding a defect that allegedly causes its Pacifica minivans to catch fire and explode.

Getting Answers: How Would Forcing Oil Companies To Publicly Disclose Profits Help Consumers?

By Staff Reporters, GOOD DAY SACRAMENTO, KOVR CBS TV-13, Sacramento, CA

March 16, 2022

https://gooddaysacramento.cbslocal.com/2022/03/16/mystery-gas-surcharge/

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — Gas prices continue to skyrocket, and Sacramento and Modesto hit new all-time highs again on Wednesday.

As California gas prices continue to reach those record highs, frustration is growing from drivers.

KPCC 89.3 FM SoCal Public Radio: Push For Transparency On Big Oil's Profits

By Staff Reporters, KPCC 89.3FM SoCal Public Radio

March 14, 2022

Click here to listen to the audio of this radio broadcast segment.

Public advocates are supporting CA State Senator Ben Allen's new proposed legislation to force big oil refiners to open their books to see if they are indeed profiteering off California consumers. 

KXJZ-FM Capitol Public Radio, Sacramento, CA: New Bill Aims To Force Oil Refiners To Open Books

By Staff Reporters, KXJZ-FM Capitol Public Radio, Sacramento, CA

March 14, 2022

Click here to listen to the audio of this radio broadcast segment. 

Consumer advocates support CA State Senator Ben Allen's new bill to force the big oil refiners to open their books to determine if they are artificially boosting prices. 

Why California Gas Prices Are So High and Vary So Widely: ‘Mystery Surcharge’ and More

By Connor Sheets, LOS ANGELES TIMES

March 14, 2022

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-03-14/gas-prices-vary-fro…

You’re filling up your Toyota Camry at a gas station in Los Angeles County — home to six oil refineries that pump out more than a million barrels a day, nearly 60% of the refinery capacity in California. With so much oil so close to home, you might think gasoline would be pretty cheap.

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