News Releases Archives

Consumer Watchdog Calls for Public Hearing on State Farm’s Unprecedented Request for 4-Year, $5.2 Billion Policyholder Bailout

July 29, 2024 · Carmen Balber

Los Angeles, CA — Consumer Watchdog is asking Insurance Commissioner Lara to hold a public hearing on State Farm’s new request for a 30% increase in...

Proposition 34 is a Threat to Our Health & Democracy, Consumer Watchdog Tells the California Supreme Court

July 16, 2024 · Jerry Flanagan

Los Angeles, CA – Proposition 34, currently scheduled to appear on the November 2024 ballot targeting the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (“AHF”), violates the California and...

Consumer Watchdog Responds To Industry Attack On Its Right To Challenge Unjustified Rate Hikes; Calls On Insurance Commissioner Lara To Follow Law & Confirm Its Eligibility

July 15, 2024 · Carmen Balber

Los Angeles, CA — Consumer Watchdog called on the Department of Insurance to stop erecting roadblocks to public oversight and confirm the organization’s eligibility to challenge...

Wildfire Mitigation Discounts Too Low, Insurance Companies Fail to Explain How They Rank Homeowners’ Wildfire Risk, Consumer Watchdog Challenges

May 1, 2024 · Carmen Balber

Consumer Watchdog Challenged State Farm for failure to properly disclose or explain to consumers their wildfire risk classifications

Federal Court Rules Plaintiffs Adequately Alleged CVS Acted With “Deliberate Indifference” When It Adopted Rx Program That Discriminates Against People Living With HIV

April 19, 2024 · Jerry Flanagan

Los Angeles, CA – Late yesterday the United States District Court for the Northern District of California ruled that four HIV-positive “John Doe” plaintiffs adequately...

Consumer Watchdog and the Los Angeles Times Petition Federal Court to Release FBI Warrants Related to LA City Attorney and LA DWP Corruption

February 22, 2024 · Jerry Flanagan

Los Angeles, CA — Yesterday afternoon the non-profit Consumer Watchdog and the Los Angeles Times petitioned a federal court in Los Angeles to release 33 FBI warrants...

Consumer Watchdog Saves Policyholders $884.8 Million on Year-End Insurance Rate Increases

January 9, 2024 · Pam Pressley

Allstate, State Farm Also Agree to End Restrictions on Sales of New Auto Policies Los Angeles, CA – Challenges by Consumer Watchdog to double-digit auto and...

One of the Largest HIV Privacy Breach Payments Arriving in Mailboxes This Week

December 19, 2023 · Jerry Flanagan

Los Angeles, CA – Checks for $1,821.58 were mailed late last week to hundreds of Californians whose confidential medical information—including their HIV status—was allegedly accessed and shared...

CVS Acted With “Deliberate Indifference” When It Implemented An Rx Drug Program That Discriminates Against People Living With HIV

November 15, 2023 · Jerry Flanagan

Los Angeles, CA – CVS acted intentionally when it implemented a drug program that discriminates against people living with HIV, according to Consumer Watchdog and...

Consumer Watchdog Challenges Recidivist Mercury Insurance for Policyholder Price-Gouging, Discrimination and Deception

October 11, 2023 · Ben Powell

Los Angeles, CA — Consumer Watchdog today filed a Petition to Intervene in an enforcement action brought by the California Department of Insurance (CDI) against Mercury...

Consumer Watchdog Says Lara’s Undisclosed Deal Will Allow Insurance Companies to Use Algorithms And Reinsurance Costs to Hike Home Insurance Rates, Potentially Turning California Into Florida

September 21, 2023 · Harvey Rosenfield

Sacramento, CA — Today’s announcement by Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara that he would allow insurance companies to use secret algorithms to set rates for homeowners’...

Consumer Watchdog Urges Newsom Not To Call State of Emergency On Insurance And Put Himself and Other 3% of Homeowners Over the 97% Who Would Face Rate Hikes