News Releases

Federal Circuit Declares Trump Tariffs Unlawful, Affirming Consumer Watchdog’s Constitutional Concerns

August 29, 2025  ·  Will Pletcher

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit ruled today that the Trump administration’s use of emergency powers to impose tariffs exceeded...

Judge Denies Lara’s CDI and State Farm’s Attempt to Move Rate Case Pre-Hearings Behind Closed Doors

August 27, 2025  ·  Will Pletcher

Consumer Watchdog Praises Ruling Upholding Public Access and Proposition 103 Transparency Los Angeles, CA – An Administrative Law Judge today issued a series of rulings in State Farm’s...

Consumer Watchdog Joins Amicus Brief To Protect Consumers’ Privacy And Keep California Courthouse Doors Open

August 26, 2025  ·  Will Pletcher

Filing in Yeh v. Barrington Pacific, LLC urges the Court of Appeal to reject federal-style standing hurdles that would weaken Californians’ consumer-privacy rights under the Investigative Consumer...

Consumer Advocates Urge Court to End Marital-Status Discrimination in Auto Insurance; Data Proves Overcharges

August 20, 2025  ·  Harvey Rosenfield

Los Angeles, CA — Basing auto insurance premiums on whether a motorist is unmarried, divorced or widowed is a violation of the state’s civil rights laws...

Consumer Advocates Sue Insurance Commissioner Lara For Punishing Public Participation In Prop 103 Rulemakings

July 30, 2025  ·  Will Pletcher

Lawsuit Alleges Improper Denial of Compensation, Hostility Toward Consumer Advocacy Groups, and Biased Process Los Angeles, CA — Consumer Watchdog and the Consumer Federation of...

Consumer Watchdog Expands Legal Challenge to Trump Tariffs with Brief in D.C. Circuit

July 29, 2025  ·  Will Pletcher

Washington, D.C. — Consumer Watchdog filed an amicus curiae brief today in the United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, expanding its ongoing legal...

Consumer Watchdog Responds to Commissioner Lara Fake News: Case That Lara Rules Violate the FAIR Plan Statute Is Going Forward

July 23, 2025  ·  Will Pletcher

Los Angeles, CA – Today, a Los Angeles Superior Court judge adopted a ruling allowing Consumer Watchdog’s lawsuit to move forward against Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara, rejecting...

Court Greenlights Consumer Lawsuit Challenging Insurance Commissioner’s Unlawful Pass-Through Surcharges Under FAIR Plan 

July 22, 2025  ·  Will Pletcher

Los Angeles, CA — A Los Angeles Superior Court judge today finalized a ruling that allows Consumer Watchdog’s lawsuit to proceed against Insurance Commissioner Lara and...

Consumer Watchdog Files Coast-to-Coast Briefing Challenging Presidential Tariffs in California and Washington 

July 8, 2025  ·  Will Pletcher

San Francisco, CA and Washington, D.C. — Consumer Watchdog yesterday filed amicus curiae (“friend of the court”) briefs in two cases—one in the Ninth Circuit in...

State Farm Cites Newly Announced CDI Market Conduct Exam to Oppose Consumer Participation in Rate Hearing

June 13, 2025  ·  Will Pletcher

Los Angeles, CA — At a hearing today before the California Department of Insurance, State Farm opposed Pacific Palisades homeowner Merritt David Farren’s petition to...

Court Accepts Consumer Watchdog Amicus Brief Opposing Trump Tariff Authority

May 29, 2025  ·  Will Pletcher

Second Federal Court Ruling Yesterday Echoes Concerns Raised in Brief San Francisco, CA — A federal court yesterday granted Consumer Watchdog’s motion for leave to...

Commissioner Lara Approves Unjustified $749 Million State Farm Home Insurance Rate Hike

May 13, 2025  ·  Carmen Balber

UPDATED 1:40PM Los Angeles, CA – A proposed decision recommending approval of State Farm General’s request for an interim rate hike was issued by an Administrative...