News Releases

Dive into Consumer Watchdog’s Investigative Series Examining How Large Insurance Companies Mistreat Wildfire Survivors

January 23, 2026  ·  Justin Kloczko

Los Angeles, CA — One year after the Los Angeles fires, Consumer Watchdog released the final report in a three-part series investigating how large insurance...

Consumer Watchdog Saves Policyholders $2.35 Billion In Rate Interventions At Cost of 6 Cents for Every $100 Saved 

January 21, 2026  ·  Jamie Court

Los Angeles, CA – Responding to insurance industry criticism of the intervenor fees paid to Consumer Watchdog in 2025, the nonprofit Consumer Watchdog published this accounting of the savings...

FAIR Plan Enrollment Spikes 20K in 4th Quarter, Exceeding Total Policies Promised Under Commissioner Lara’s Plan

January 13, 2026  ·  Carmen Balber

Sacramento, CA – The California FAIR Plan released new numbers showing enrollment continues to grow, adding 21,859 residential policies in the final three months of 2025....

Consumer Watchdog and Eaton Fire Survivor Network Join Senator Sasha Perez to Announce Bills Exposing Insurance Claim Low-Balling and Penalize Delays 

January 7, 2026  ·  Carmen Balber

Los Angeles, CA – Consumer Watchdog and the Eaton Fire Survivors Network joined Senator Sasha Renée Pérez to announce legislation holding insurance companies accountable for insurance...

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

December 15, 2025  ·  Carmen Balber

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

December 2, 2025  ·  Jamie Court

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

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 for Up To 65% Rate Hike

November 24, 2025  ·  Jamie Court

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

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

November 24, 2025  ·  Justin Kloczko

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

November 20, 2025  ·  Harvey Rosenfield

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 the...

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

November 13, 2025  ·  Carmen Balber

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

November 11, 2025  ·  Justin Kloczko

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

November 3, 2025  ·  Jamie Court

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 policyholders...