In The Courtroom

Full Steam Ahead: Autism Trial on Monday, Dec. 13th

December 10, 2010  ·  Jerry Flanagan

<p> We have cleared the final hurdle before going to trial next Monday on <a href="http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/legal/lawsuit-stop-scandalous-denials-autism-treatment-set-trial-december">our suit</a> against the Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC), the state's largest health insurance regulator, for illegally siding with insurance companies over autism treatment delays.</p>

Round Two Goes to Consumer Watchdog in Autism Battle

November 19, 2010  ·  Jerry Flanagan

Ever play a game with a poor loser who tries to change the rules when the chips are down? The Department of Managed Health Care...

Lawsuit to stop “scandalous” denials of Autism treatment set for trial in December

November 4, 2010  ·  Jerry Flanagan

What does “health care reform” promising “access” to health care services really mean if children can be denied the medical care they need? California HMOs...

Schwarzenegger veto harms kids with Autism

October 4, 2010  ·  Jerry Flanagan

<p> Californians, including those stricken by autism, and their parents and caregivers, expect regulators to enforce the law, not to side with insurance companies seeking to boost their profits by denying patients the care they need. </p>

Consumer Watchdog Files Suit Against DirecTV

August 11, 2010  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p> Consumer Watchdog's Todd Foreman discusses the rationale behind the suit we have brought against DirecTV.</p>

Consumer Complaints, Lawsuits Target DIRECTV

August 10, 2010  ·  Consumer Watchdog

Last year, Consumer Watchdog, a consumer advocacy group based in Southern California, filed a class action lawsuit against DIRECTV over its cancellation policies. Consumer Watchdog attorney Todd Foreman said the company can charge customers up to $480 to get out of their contracts.   

Imburgia, Mecca and Greiner v. DirecTv

November 18, 2009  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p> <em><strong>Imburgia, Mecca and Greiner v. DirecTv</strong></em><br/> Los Angeles Superior Court No. BC 398295<br/>  <br/> <em><strong>UPDATE:</strong> Court Denies Preliminary Injunction Against DirecTv<br/> </em><br/> During...</p>

Consumer Watchdog Sues California Department of Managed Health Care for Permitting HMOs to Deny Treatments to Autistic Children after Secret Meetings Between State Employees and HMO Execs

November 17, 2009  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p> <strong>Consumer Watchdog Sues California Department of Managed Health Care for Permitting HMOs to Deny Treatments to Autistic Children after Secret Meetings Between State Employees and HMO Execs</strong></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <em>Los Angeles Superior Court BS 121397</em></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <em><strong>UPDATE: </strong><a name="OLE_LINK10"></a>Court Issues Preliminary Ruling Holding Autism Treatment Denials, Agency Actions Illegal.</em></p>

State Approves Autism Claims

November 13, 2009  ·  Consumer Watchdog

Several families of autistic children denied treatments by their health plans have won administrative appeals, in a sign that a recent court ruling scrutinizing regulators may be having an effect on the state's handling of the cases.<br/> <br/> ...

Court Advances Autism-Treatment Lawsuit Against California Regulator

October 28, 2009  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p> LOS ANGELES, CA -- A lawsuit claiming the California Department of Managed Care improperly allowed health insurers to decline payment for autism treatments will proceed to trial after a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge rebuked the state in a preliminary ruling. A Consumer Watchdog representative said regulators should stop denying coverage on the grounds that ABA providers are certified not by the state but by a national board. Continuing to do so would risk legal damages, the advocacy group said in a statement. "The DMHC has to change its practices going forward, and the department should immediately reverse its previous denials," Pam Pressley, litigation director for Consumer Watchdog, said in a statement. "Gov. Schwarzenegger, a long-time and vocal supporter of the Special Olympics and developmentally disabled children, should require his regulators to abide by the law." </p>

Suit Challenges State’s Autism Practices

October 27, 2009  ·  Consumer Watchdog

A lawsuit alleging state regulators allow insurance companies to deny necessary but expensive treatment for autistic children in violation of state law has enough merit to proceed to trial, a Los Angeles Superior Court judge has ruled. The lawsuit, filed in July by Santa Monica-based Consumer Watchdog, seeks to compel the California Department of Managed Health Care to order health plans to cover applied behavioral analysis (ABA) if a member complains the treatment was denied though it is deemed medically necessary and is provided by licensed personnel or under the supervision of licensed personnel.

Autism Treatment Claims Dispute Can Go To Trial

October 27, 2009  ·  Consumer Watchdog

A lawsuit seeking health care coverage for the use of applied behavioral analysis in the treatment of autism has been cleared for trial by the Los Angeles County Superior Court. Consumer Watchdog et. al. vs. California Department of Managed Health Care et. al. involves Kaiser Permanente’s denial of coverage for a child’s ABA treatment because the provider wasn’t licensed by the state. The Oakland, Calif.-based health maintenance organization cited regulations issued by the California Department of Managed Health Care as its reason for denying coverage for ABA treatment.