News Releases Archives

Make Utility, Insurance, Fossil Fuel Industries Pay Their Fair Share for Wildfire Recovery and Invest in Reducing Climate Risk;

Carmen Balber - December 15, 2025

Consumer Watchdog Submits Recommendations to CEA for Governor’s Resiliency Report Los Angeles, CA – California should hold the industries responsible for fueling climate change, causing wildfires...

Consumer Watchdogs Withdraw Policyholder Bill of Rights Ballot Measure In Armistice That Includes Withdrawal of Measure Repealing Insurance Reform Prop 103

Jamie Court - December 2, 2025

Sacramento, CA – The leaders of Consumer Watchdog and the insurance broker who filed a ballot measure to repeal landmark insurance reform Prop 103...

Farmers’ Filing Exhibit A for Loopholes in Lara Plan: Shows Net Loss of 15,000 Policies In Distressed Areas And 59,000 Policies Overall In Exchange...

Jamie Court - November 24, 2025

Los Angeles, CA - The recent filing from Farmers Insurance under Insurance Commissioner Lara’s “Sustainable Insurance Strategy” is the poster child for the loopholes...

New Episode of Smoke & Mirrors Explores Why Fire Survivors Want California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara Out

Justin Kloczko - November 24, 2025

A backdoor agreement between California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara and major insurance companies led to a wave of dropped policies before 2025’s catastrophic LA fires.

Lara’s Revenge Regulation Will Gut Public Participation in Insurance Rate-Making, Consumer Watchdog Says at Hearing Today

Harvey Rosenfield - November 20, 2025

Los Angeles, CA - Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara’s proposal to change the rules that govern consumers’ right to scrutinize and challenge unjustified rates would derail...

Consumer Watchdog Welcomes Los Angeles County Investigation Into State Farm’s Wildfire Claims

Carmen Balber - November 13, 2025

County Action Follows Mounting Complaints from Fire Survivors Los Angeles, CA — Consumer Watchdog today commended the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors and the Los...

New Episode of Smoke & Mirrors Reveals How Tech and Algorithms Hurt Policyholders

Justin Kloczko - November 11, 2025

Hidden algorithms and artificial intelligence used by the nation’s largest home insurance companies are leaving many homeowners underinsured, underpaid, or denied home insurance completely.

New York Times Investigation Finds Lara’s Plan Incentivized Insurers’ Dumping Of Policyholders Prior To LA Fires, Doubling FAIR Plan Enrollment

Jamie Court - November 3, 2025

Los Angeles, CA - A New York Times investigation has found Insurance Commissioner Lara’s 2023 plan to deal with California’s insurance crisis incentivized insurance companies to dump...

Consumer Alert Warns Eaton Fire Survivors About Edison Fast Pay Provision: Fast Doesn’t Mean Fair

Jamie Court - October 30, 2025

Los Angeles, CA – A short consumer alert video, produced by Consumer Watchdog and narrated by Eaton fire survivor Ellen Snortland, warns Eaton fire survivors that...

Smoke & Mirrors Podcast Exposes Troubling Tactics of Insurance Subcontractors in Wildfire Recovery

Justin Kloczko - October 27, 2025

We uncover the underworld of fire insurance subcontracting, where companies positioned as experts in smoke testing and home remediation work for insurers seeking to cut costs.

New Investigative Podcast Series Uncovers Wildfire Insurance Abuses

Justin Kloczko - October 22, 2025

Smoke & Mirrors uncovers a web of little-known subcontractors and unseen technology that facilitate claims delays, lowballed payouts and denials, and offers advice on what consumers can do about it.

California to Create First Public Wildfire Catastrophe Model to Empower Homeowners with Insurance Wildfire Risk Information

Carmen Balber - October 13, 2025

Sacramento, CA – Legislation creating a fully transparent public wildfire catastrophe model was signed by Governor Newsom late Friday. The law will give consumers the...

Poll Shows Between 80% and 90% Support For Insurance Policyholders Bill of Rights

Jamie Court - October 8, 2025

Los Angeles, CA – Consumer Watchdog released polling data showing overwhelming disapproval of the insurance industry and overwhelming public support for the Insurance Policyholder Bill...

Updated CA Insurance Department Data Shows Time To Rate Approvals Same With or Without Intervenors, Public Citizen Chimes In Against Revenge Regulations

Jamie Court - October 2, 2025

Sacramento, CA – Updated data from the California Department of Insurance (CDI) continues to show rate approvals are as fast, or faster, when Consumer Watchdog...

Consumer Watchdog Sets Record Straight With Newsom On Insurance, Companies He Said Were “Coming Back In” Never Left the Market

Jamie Court - September 26, 2025

Sacramento, CA -- Consumer Watchdog issued a “Consumer Alert” video warning the public about several misstatements Governor Newsom made at Climate Week in New York...

Consumer Watchdogs File Insurance Reform Ballot Measure Guaranteeing Fire-Safe Homeowners Right To Coverage & Other Rights, Respond To Deregulation Initiative

Jamie Court - September 22, 2025

Consumer Watchdog have filed a ballot measure guaranteeing insurance coverage to homeowners who meet wildfire mitigation standards set by the state.

Passage of Public Wildfire Catastrophe Model Legislation Highlight of Session Lacking Bold Action on Home Insurance Abuses

Carmen Balber - September 15, 2025

Even when homeowners do everything right to protect their homes from wildfires they face extreme price hikes and nonrenewals of their insurance.

From the Office of Sen. Dave Cortese: Bill to Establish the Nation’s First Catastrophic Model for Wildfires Passes the Assembly

Carmen Balber - September 10, 2025

https://sd15.senate.ca.gov/news/senator-dave-corteses-bill-establish-nations-first-catastrophic-model-wildfires-passes SACRAMENTO – As wildfires continue to break out throughout California, Senator Dave Cortese’s SB 429 that will help homeowners understand their property’s wildfire risk, was...

Judge Rejects Illinois Insurance Department’s Bid To Argue Against Public Transparency in State Farm Rate Hearing, Sides With Consumer Watchdog

Will Pletcher - September 10, 2025

Judge Rejects Illinois Insurance Department’s Bid To Argue Against Public Transparency Consumer Watchdog Led Effort To Stop Out-of-State Agency

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

Harvey Rosenfield - August 20, 2025

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...

The Coast News Group – Elias: Lara does insurance companies’ bidding

Los Angeles Times – The L.A. wildfires exposed a broken insurance market. Why wasn’t it fixed?

Los Angeles Times – International travel. Fancy meals. Missing receipts. Who paid the tab for this top official?

Spectrum News 1: Palisades Fire Rebuild Insurance Concerns

Smoke & Mirrors Podcast Exposes Troubling Tactics of Insurance Subcontractors in Wildfire Recovery

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