News Releases

Consumer Watchdog Agrees With Insurance Commissioner Lara That State Farm Needs To Provide More Information Before Getting Rate Hike, But Should Be Provided in Full Hearing

February 14, 2025  ·  Jamie Court

Los Angeles, CA – Consumer Watchdog said that Insurance Commissioner Lara is right in asking for more information from State Farm before approving its request...

Homeowner Surcharge to Bailout Insurers for FAIR Plan Losses Unfair and Illegal, Says Consumer Watchdog

February 11, 2025  ·  Carmen Balber

Los Angeles, CA – Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara announced today he would let home insurance companies charge every homeowner in the state for losses by...

Consumer Watchdog Calls on Insurance Commissioner to Reject State Farm’s Unjustified Emergency Rate Hike Request

February 7, 2025  ·  Carmen Balber

Los Angeles, CA – Consumer Watchdog has submitted two letters to Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara objecting to State Farm’s request for an emergency interim rate increase,...

Insurance Industry, U.S. House GOP, Exploit California Wildfire Disaster to Promote Deregulation in Congress

February 6, 2025  ·  Carmen Balber

Proven Consumer Protections, Investments in Disaster Resilience, and Eliminating Industry Subsidy of Fossil Fuels Are How to Keep American Homeowners Insured Los Angeles, CA – Consumer...

Trying to Cash in On Wildfire Tragedy, State Farm Demands Immediate $740 Million Bailout

February 3, 2025  ·  Carmen Balber

Los Angeles, CA — State Farm this morning asked Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara to authorize an immediate 22% increase in State Farm’s home insurance rates, amounting...

Lara Reinsurance Regulation To Pump Up Homeowners Rates By 40% Without Guarantees of New Wildfire Coverage, No Opportunity For Public Input

December 30, 2024  ·  Jamie Court

The new draft regulation proposed by Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara would allow insurance companies to drive up home insurance rates by 40% to 50%

Consumer Watchdog Saves California Policyholders $47 Million in United Financial Auto Insurance Rate Hikes

December 17, 2024  ·  Ben Powell

Los Angeles, CA —  Consumer Watchdog reached a settlement with United Financial Casualty Company and the California Department of Insurance last week, resolving the company’s application with...

Secret Algorithms to Raise Home Insurance Rates, No Requirement for New Coverage, Under Lara Regulations Issued Today 

December 13, 2024  ·  Carmen Balber

Consumers should expect large rate hikes but not more insurance policies sold under new rules issued by Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara

Consumer Watchdog Saves Policyholders Over $325 Million from State Farm Auto Rate Hike; Dispute Erupts Between Commissioner Lara and Chief Administrative Law Judge Who Finds Department of Insurance Is Not Ensuring Rate Cases Are “Fundamentally Fair” 

December 11, 2024  ·  Ryan Mellino

As a result of Consumer Watchdog’s intervention, State Farm agreed to a lower rate increase of 17.7% compared to its initial 23.4% request

Little Hoover Commission Calls for Greater Transparency and Accountability in Home Insurance Market

November 21, 2024  ·  Carmen Balber

Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara Refused to Testify or Meet with Commission Sacramento, CA – Consumer Watchdog endorsed many of the recommendations released today by the Little...

State Farm, Allstate and Insurance Lobbyists Ask Lara to Override Judge’s Decision

November 15, 2024  ·  Harvey Rosenfield

Chief Judge Says CA Insurance Regulators Flouted Consumer Protections Los Angeles, CA – The Chief Administrative Law Judge of the California Department of Insurance has...

Insurance Commissioner Finalizes Plan Allowing Secret Algorithms to Raise Home Insurance Rates; Lies About Making Insurers Sell More Coverage in Return

November 14, 2024  ·  Carmen Balber

Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara is not being honest with Californians about making insurance companies using secret algorithms to hike rates.