News Releases

Public Records Act Decision Could Mean More Government Secrecy, Undermine Transparency

January 11, 2023  ·  Jerry Flanagan

Los Angeles, CA — A recent decision in a public records case brought by Consumer Watchdog against the California Department of Insurance could encourage more...

Insurance Department Must Protect Public’s Right to Scrutinize Insurance Rate Increases Consumer Watchdog Says in Letter to Commissioner Lara After Abrupt Approval of GEICO Rate Hike

December 7, 2022  ·  Pam Pressley

Los Angeles, CA – The California Department of Insurance has approved a $268 million increase in auto insurance premiums for GEICO customers without following the public...

Consumer Watchdog Calls on Insurance Commissioner Lara to Reject Allstate’s Job-Based Insurance Rate Discrimination, Adopt Regulations to Stop the Practice Industrywide

September 22, 2022  ·  Pam Pressley

Los Angeles, CA – Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara should reject Allstate’s proposed $165 million auto insurance rate hike and its two-tiered job- and education-based discriminatory...

Final Briefs Filed in Lawsuit Against Insurance Commissioner Lara & Department of Insurance Over Pay-to-Play Records

August 24, 2022  ·  Jerry Flanagan

Los Angeles, CA — Consumer Watchdog filed its final briefs in a California Public Records Act (“CPRA”) lawsuit against Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara and the...

Consumer Watchdog Challenges $268 Million GEICO Auto Insurance Rate Hike & Job- and Education-Based Insurance Rate Discrimination

August 9, 2022  ·  Carmen Balber

Los Angeles, CA – Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara should reject GEICO’s proposed $268 million auto insurance rate hike and its job- and education-based discriminatory rating...

Discrimination Suit Brought By “John Doe” HIV-Positive Plaintiffs May Proceed, A San Francisco Federal Court Ruled Friday

August 8, 2022  ·  Consumer Watchdog

Late Friday a federal court in San Francisco allowed a case against subsidiaries of CVS Health Corporation brought by HIV-positive “John Doe” plaintiffs to proceed,...

Consumer Watchdog Challenges $202 Million Auto Club Insurance Rate Increase & Job-Based Insurance Rate Discrimination

July 28, 2022  ·  Ben Powell

Los Angeles, CA – Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara should reject the Interinsurance Exchange of the Automobile Club’s (“Auto Club”) proposed $202 million auto insurance rate...

Opening Brief Filed in Public Records Lawsuit Against Insurance Commissioner Lara & Agency Over Pay-to-Play Records

July 14, 2022  ·  Jerry Flanagan

Los Angeles, CA — Consumer Watchdog filed its Opening Brief in a California Public Records Act (“CPRA”) lawsuit against Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara and the...

The Department of Insurance Obstructs Access to Public Records Regarding “Connected Cars” in Wake of Industry Lobbying

May 17, 2022  ·  Jerry Flanagan

Los Angeles, CA – The Department of Insurance has engaged in a “pattern and practice of obstructing access to public records,” according to Consumer Watchdog.    ...

California Climate Insurance Disclosure Bill Stalls

April 18, 2022  ·  Carmen Balber

PUBLIC CITIZEN AND CONSUMER WATCHDOG RELEASED THE FOLLOWING TODAY – The California Assembly Insurance Committee has declined to hold a hearing on a bill that...

Consumer Groups Back Wildfire Mitigation Insurance Discounts, Call for Protection From Non-Renewals

April 13, 2022  ·  Pam Pressley

Insurance Commissioner Lara Must Close Loophole in Regulation Allowing Insurers to Ignore WIldfire Mitigation for Denial or Non-Renewal Decisions Los Angeles, CA – A regulation proposed...

Consumer Watchdog Calls on Insurance Commissioner Lara To Issue Refund Rules In Response to CA Supreme Court

February 16, 2022  ·  Pam Pressley

Los Angeles, CA — The California Supreme Court has refused to review a lower court ruling that stripped the Insurance Commissioner of critical powers granted...