Mercury Paying $41M in Decades-Long Court Battle With California Insurance Department
By Staff Writers, INSURANCE JOURNAL
October 2, 2019
https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/west/2019/10/02/541727.htm
Mercury Insurance Co. has agreed to pay more than $41 million to end a two-decade long battle with the California Department of Insurance battle over the Los Angeles-based carrier improperly tacking fees onto auto insurance policies and over false advertising claims.
Walters: New Battle Over $250,000 Cap On Medical Malpractice Awards
By Dan Walters, THE MERCURY NEWS
A dad who says his infant’s lungs were ‘blown up’ by malpractice and Consumer Watchdog propose nullifying it
October 2, 2019
https://www.mercurynews.com/2019/10/02/walters-new-battle-over-250k-cap…
California’s longest-running single-issue political battle, over limits on damages in medical malpractice lawsuits, is about to heat up again.
Gasoline Prices Soar To $4.06 A Gallon In San Diego
By Rob Nikolewski, THE SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE
September 30, 2019
https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/business/energy-green/story/2019-0…
First, it was a missile attack in Saudi Arabia. Now, it’s another spate of refinery closures. Regardless of the reasons, San Diego motorists are being greeted by an unwelcome sight when they pull into the service station: The return of $4-a-gallon gasoline.
Another Ballot Measure Proposed To End Medical Negligence Damages Cap
Consumer Watchdog filed a new ballot measure Thursday to make a frontal assault on the Medical Injury Compensation Reform Act, known as MICRA, a 1975 law capping non-economic medical negligence damages at $250,000,
By Malcolm Maclachlan, THE DAILY JOURNAL OF LOS ANGELES
September 27, 2019
Calif. Group Seeks To Raise State's Med Mal Damages Cap
By Y. Peter Kang, LAW 360
September 27, 2019
https://www.law360.com/california/articles/1203371/calif-group-seeks-to…
Law360 (September 27, 2019, 9:18 PM EDT) -- A consumer advocacy group has launched a ballot initiative that would significantly raise California’s cap on pain-and-suffering damages in medical malpractice cases, five years after a similar proposal was shot down by voters.
Families of Injured Patients File California Ballot Measure to Raise MICRA
By Staff Writers, INSURANCE JOURNAL
September 26, 2019
https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/west/2019/09/26/541369.htm
Several families of inured patients on Thursday filed proposed initiative for the November 2020 ballot to raise California’s medical malpractice cap.
The cap is set by the Medical Injury Compensation Reform Act, MICRA, passed in 1975.
The Fairness for Injured Patients Act was filed with the Secretary of state.
L.A. Drops Lawsuit Over DWP Billing Errors. Now Ratepayers Could Owe Millions
By Dakota Smith, LOS ANGELES TIMES
September 26, 2019
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2019-09-26/dwp-pricewaterhouse…
The city of Los Angeles moved Thursday to abandon its high-profile lawsuit against PricewaterhouseCoopers in what amounts to a stunning defeat for City Atty. Mike Feuer, who had tried to blame the consulting firm for the massive overbilling debacle at the Department of Water and Power.
Caps On Medical Malpractice Awards Could Face New Ballot Challenge
"We are the most progressive state in the country with the most regressive medical malpractice laws in the country," the president of Consumer Watchdog says.
By Cheryl Miller, THE RECORDER
September 26, 2019
https://www.law.com/therecorder/2019/09/26/caps-on-medical-malpractice-…
Proposed Ballot Initiative Targets California’s Lawsuit Caps
By Adam Beam, ASSOCIATED PRESS
September 26, 2019
https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/california/articles/2019-09-26/…
SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- A proposed California ballot initiative would let patients get more money in medical malpractice lawsuits.
Industry Spends Big To Sell Safety Of Driverless Cars
By Alex Gangitano, THE HILL
September 26, 2019
https://thehill.com/policy/transportation/463124-industry-spends-big-to…
Major players in the self-driving car industry are boosting their lobbying presence to convince policymakers in Washington the vehicles are safe for the road.
Coalition Launches MICRA Ballot Initiative With Backing From Wealthy Trial Lawyer
By Angela Hart, POLITICO PRO
September 26, 2019
SACRAMENTO — A deep-pocketed lawyer and a coalition led by Consumer Watchdog are launching a November 2020 ballot initiative that would multiply the amount medical negligence victims stand to receive in court, potentially resurrecting a political dogfight involving attorneys, hospitals and doctors.
California Department of Insurance to Investigate Legality of Affinity Group Discounts
By Timothy Darragh, BESTWIRE
September 25, 2019
http://news.ambest.com/newscontent.aspx?altsrc=108&refnum=220466
SACRAMENTO, Calif.
Saying discounts offered to affinity groups in California exacerbate disparities in auto insurance rates that lead to higher costs for lower-income families and communities of color, the California insurance commissioner is looking into their legality.
Consumer Watchdog Asks California Attorney General to Investigate Insurance Commissioner
By Staff Writers, INSURANCE JOURNAL
September 23, 2019
https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/west/2019/09/23/540852.htm
Consumer Watchdog has written California Attorney General Xavier Becerra and the District Attorneys of Sacramento, San Francisco, and Los Angeles counties, calling for an investigation of money laundering and bribery relating to the fundraising scandal engulfing California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara.
Emails Blurred The Line Between Politics And Policy In California Insurance Department
By Hannah Wiley, SACRAMENTO BEE - CAPITOL ALERT
September 19, 2019
https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article23…
When an industry executive reached out on May 1 to California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara’s department staff, he emailed with two meeting requests: a “formal policy discussion” and a “political meeting.”
Consumer Watchdog’s Jamie Court Talks Rising Oil Prices
By Pat Thurston, KGO 810 AM Radio - Berkeley, CA
September 19, 2019
Click here to listen to the audio of this radio broadcast segment: http://www.kgoradio.com/2019/09/19/consumer-watchdogs-jamie-court-talks…
Consumer Watchdog reporter Jamie Court explains why gas prices are going up so quickly. Listen for details with Pat Thurston.
Consumer Watchdog: California Commissioner’s Calendar Suggests He Made Contact in ‘Pay to Play’
By Staff Writers, INSURANCE JOURNAL
September 19, 2019
https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/west/2019/09/19/540547.htm
Calendar entries and documents show that California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara, not his fundraiser, made first contact with an agent of a workers’ compensation insurance company offering political support in conjunction with seeking approval for a change of control in the company, according to Consumer Watchdog.
Advocacy Group Calls For Criminal Investigation Into State Insurance Commissioner
Consumer Watchdog asks state Attorney General’s Office, local prosecutors to examine political contributions
By Jeff McDonald, THE SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE
September 19, 2019
https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/watchdog/story/2019-09-19/adv…
Recycling Centers Shut Down, Leaving Consumers Unable To Redeem Bottle Deposits
By Michael Finney & Renee Koury, KABC TV-7 San Francisco, CA
September 18, 2019
https://abc7news.com/society/bottle-deposits-go-unclaimed-as-recycling-…
DALY CITY, Calif. (KGO) -- The sudden shutdown of the state's largest recycling company has sparked outrage among consumers who say they've lost any reasonable way to redeem the deposits on their bottles and cans.
No One Can Agree on How to Price California Home Insurance for Wildfires
Insurers, consumer advocates at odds over use of algorithmic models to assess risk
By Nicole Friedman, THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
September 16, 2019
https://www.wsj.com/articles/no-one-can-agree-on-how-to-price-californi…
Finding home insurance in wildfire-prone parts of California is getting more difficult and more expensive. No one can agree on how to make it any easier.
California Has Gone Months With No New Fracking Permits. But Dozens Of Illegal Oil Spills Are Flowing
By Janet Wilson, THE DESERT SUN
September 13, 2019
https://www.desertsun.com/story/news/environment/2019/09/13/california-…
California has issued no permits for fracking since late June, according to records reviewed by The Desert Sun and watchdog groups.
Man Rented $10,000-a-Month High Rise Using Stolen ID, Police Say
James Shannon, 36, is suspected of stealing from his neighbors, co-workers, and others, police said.
By Eric Leonard, Philip Dreschler and Andrew Blankstein, KNBC TV-4 Los Angeles, CA
September 12, 2019
https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/Suspected-ID-Thief-Rented-Luxu…
State Insurance Czar Wants Us To Pay The Rent For His Second Home
By John Phillips, RIVERSIDE PRESS-ENTERPRISE
September 11, 2019
https://www.pe.com/2019/09/11/state-insurance-czar-wants-us-to-pay-the-…
I hope you’re sitting down, because I just heard about a scheme to rip off California taxpayers using the railroad … and it’s worse than the bullet train!
Editorial: With Scandals Multiplying, Will Ricardo Lara Last A Full Term As Insurance Commissioner?
By The SACRAMENTO BEE Editorial Board
September 11, 2019
https://www.sacbee.com/opinion/article234952877.html
Will Ricardo Lara survive his first term as California’s insurance commissioner? We can’t say for sure.
California’s Insurance Chief Vowed Not To Take Industry Money. Records Show He Did, And Knew It
By Hannah Wiley, CAPITOL ALERT - SACRAMENTO BEE
September 10, 2019
https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article23…
California’s top regulator of insurance companies sought campaign contributions from the industry and partied with one of its lobbyists after winning his election last year, according to records and social media posts obtained by The Sacramento Bee.
Consumer Group Wants AG To Investigate California Insurance Commissioner Over 2nd Home
By Staff Writers, INSURANCE JOURNAL
September 10, 2019
https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/west/2019/09/10/539402.htm
Consumer Watchdog is calling on California Attorney General Xavier Becerra and the district attorneys for Sacramento, Los Angeles and San Francisco counties to launch an investigation over the potential theft of public funds.
Op-Ed: Recycling Cans and Bottles Is Hard Enough. These Bills Could Make It Nearly Impossible
Op-Ed Commentary by Jamie Court for the SACRAMENTO BEE
September 10, 2019
https://www.sacbee.com/opinion/op-ed/article234899717.html
The ugliest sausage made in Sacramento gets ground up in the last week of legislative session.
California Commissioner Sorry for Accepting Insurance Industry Contributions
By Staff Reporters, INSURANCE JOURNAL
September 4, 2019
https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/west/2019/09/04/538887.htm
Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara has offered an apology for accepting campaign contributions from the insurance industry.
Lara in a letter that was reportedly sent on Tuesday acknowledged that his campaign solicited contributions from the insurance industry, despite a campaign pledge not to do so.
California Insurance Commissioner Halts Fundraising Over Conflicts
By Timothy Darragh, BESTWIRE
September 4, 2019
Sacramento, CA -- California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara has suspended campaign fundraising for the rest of 2019 after repeated news media revelations that his campaign accepted funds from individuals with ties to the insurance industry.
Lara, in a letter sent to consumer advocates and posted on his campaign website, apologized for taking contributions from industry sources after pledging during his campaign not to do so.
NTSB Confirms Autopilot Engaged During Tesla Crash
Model 3 runs into back of unoccupied fire truck
By Michael Strong, THE DETROIT BUREAU
September 3, 2019
https://www.thedetroitbureau.com/2019/09/ntsb-confirms-autopilot-engage…
The National Transportation Safety Board determined that a Tesla Model S that hit the back of a fire truck was in Autopilot mode and the driver was not holding the steering wheel when it hit the parked vehicle.
Column: California’s Fire Insurance Market Reaches A Crisis
By Michael Hiltzik, LOS ANGELES TIMES
August 29, 2019
https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2019-08-28/hiltzik-california-fi…
Steve Nielsen would not normally have considered himself a resident of California’s wildfire zone. But that ended in October 2017, when a fire swept through Coffey Park, his suburban Santa Rosa neighborhood, destroying his home and those of about 1,200 neighbors.
How Many People Are Losing Homeowners Insurance Because of Wildfires?
It’s finally being counted, but things are complicated.
By Jill Cowan, THE NEW YORK TIMES
August 28, 2019
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/28/us/wildfires-insurance.html
A little while ago, we asked about whether wildfires were affecting your ability to get or keep homeowners insurance. The answer was, in a word, yes.
What's Next For California Container Recycling After rePlanet's Closure?
By Katie Pyzyk, WASTE DIVE
August 28, 2019
https://www.wastedive.com/news/whats-next-for-california-container-recy…
The recent announcement that California’s largest operator of beverage container redemption centers was immediately shutting down all locations has left many wondering what happens next with recycling in the state.
‘Everything's On The Table’ -- Insurance Commissioner Could Issue Emergency Regulations To Help Crisis
The state's Insurance Commissioner is being accused of not using his full powers to help people losing home insurance.
By Becca Habegger, KXTV ABC TV-10 NEWS, Sacramento, CA
August 28, 2019
https://www.abc10.com/article/news/everythings-on-the-table-insurance-c…
Editorial: California Insurance Czar’s Troubling First 7 Months In Office
Ricardo Lara’s campaign contributions, questionable meeting, legislation raise concerns about consumer commitment
By MERCURY NEWS & EAST BAY TIMES EDITORIAL BOARDS
August 23, 2019
https://www.mercurynews.com/2019/08/23/editorial-californias-insurance-…
California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara has some explaining to do.
Editorial: California Insurance Czar’s Troubling First 7 Months In Office
Ricardo Lara’s campaign contributions, questionable meeting, legislation raise concerns about consumer commitment
By MERCURY NEWS & EAST BAY TIMES EDITORIAL BOARDS
August 23, 2019
https://www.mercurynews.com/2019/08/23/editorial-californias-insurance-…
California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara has some explaining to do.
Senators Call For Connected Car Kill Switches Following Consumer Watchdog Report
By Ryan Daws, IoT NEWS
August 23, 2019
https://www.iottechnews.com/news/2019/aug/23/senators-connected-car-kil…
US Senators Richard Blumenthal and Ed Markey have penned a letter to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) asking whether vehicle manufacturers have disclosed vulnerabilities with their cars.
