News Releases Archives

Public Records Act Lawsuit Tests Ricardo Lara’s Pledge Of Transparency

Jerry Flanagan - July 6, 2021

Los Angeles, CA -- Despite his pledge for “transparency” in the wake of a scandal involving a workers’ compensation insurer, Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara has...

Auto Insurance Companies Overcharged California Motorists $5.5 Billion During the First Year of Pandemic, Study Shows

Carmen Balber - June 29, 2021

Los Angeles, CA -- While the vast majority of Californians drove far less last year, most California insurance companies continued to charge pre-pandemic auto...

California Insurance Commissioner’s Wildfire Working Group Embraces Insurance Industry Wish List at Expense of Consumers and Taxpayers

Carmen Balber - June 7, 2021

Los Angeles, CA -- A group convened by Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara to investigate insurance-related climate change solutions is recommending he let insurance companies insert...

California Moves to Curb Discriminatory Auto Insurance Pricing Using Job and Education Level That Charges Lower-Income, Non-White Drivers More

Carmen Balber - March 23, 2021

Sacramento, CA – Insurance companies’ illegal use of job and education level to price auto insurance discriminates against lower income drivers and communities of color...

Supreme Court Confirms Right to Sue Insurance Companies for Overcharges

Harvey Rosenfield - March 22, 2021

Decision Rebuffs Industry Arguments Against Proposition 103 Enforcement Rights Los Angeles, CA -- In a decision that will likely affect California motorists, homeowners, small businesses...

California Moves to Curtail Job and Education-Based Auto Insurance Discrimination

Carmen Balber - February 19, 2021

Sacramento, CA -- Draft regulations released by the Department of Insurance Thursday move California one step closer to stopping auto insurance discrimination that has allowed...

Insurance Companies Created Home Insurance Crisis, Consumer Watchdog Testifies at Department of Insurance Wildfire Hearing

Carmen Balber - October 19, 2020

Los Angeles, CA -- The insurance industry is exploiting California wildfires for its own financial advantage by arbitrarily refusing to sell or renew homeowners’...

Insurance Commissioner to Investigate Key Wildfire Insurance Issues Under Legislation Headed to Senate Floor

Carmen Balber - August 21, 2020

Sacramento, CA -- California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara would investigate and develop solutions to ensure affordable, accessible insurance for homeowners in wildfire areas and report...

National Insurance Expert Warns CA Bill to Deregulate Homeowner Insurance Will Hike Rates 40% In First Year; Senate Vote Tomorrow

Carmen Balber - August 3, 2020

Los Angeles, CA -- A national insurance expert and actuary has warned California lawmakers that AB 2167, scheduled for a vote in the Senate...

Auto Insurance Rate Hike for Low Income Drivers Withdrawn

Greer Levin - July 30, 2020

Los Angeles, CA -- A proposed overall 3.8% rate hike on drivers insured under California’s Low Cost Auto Insurance Program has been withdrawn after Consumer...

Insurance Industry Gives CA Senators $2.35 Million To Win Right To Raise Homeowners’ Rates

Carmen Balber - July 7, 2020

Sacramento, CA – Members of the California State Senate have taken $2,353,000 in campaign contributions from insurance companies and insurance industry trade associations in the...

Consumer Watchdog Urges Insurance Commissioner to Freeze Auto Insurance Rates for Low Income Drivers

Pam Pressley - June 16, 2020

Los Angeles, CA -- Consumer Watchdog has asked the Insurance Commissioner to block proposed hikes in the price of auto insurance sold to low income...

Sneak Insurance Industry Power Play In Sacramento Threatens To Jack Up Home Insurance Rates In Violation of Voter-Enacted Insurance Rate Regulation

Jamie Court - June 8, 2020

Los Angeles, CA – Consumer Watchdog warned today that homeowners could pay billions more for their home insurance under a sneak insurance industry legislative...

Assembly Insurance Committee Approves Bills to Let Insurers Raise Homeowners’ Rates By Skirting Price-Gouging Protections

Harvey Rosenfield - May 8, 2020

Sacramento, CA – The Assembly Insurance Committee voted today to allow insurance companies to raise rates on homeowners and renters in violation of voter-approved Proposition 103....

Insurance Industry Pushes Legislation to Increase Homeowners Insurance Rates, Derail Public Protections Against Price Gouging, in Guise of Wildfire Response

Harvey Rosenfield - May 6, 2020

Los Angeles, CA — While the rest of the state is sheltering at home, lobbyists for the insurance industry are busy promoting legislation, scheduled...

State Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara Should Stop All Auto Insurance Rate Increases During Pandemic, Says Consumer Watchdog

Harvey Rosenfield - April 23, 2020

Los Angeles, CA – Consumer Watchdog today called on Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara to suspend all increases in auto insurance rates through September 1,...

Transamerica Settles Lawsuit Concerning Increases in “Cost of Insurance” Charges

Harvey Rosenfield - April 7, 2020

Los Angeles, CA – Transamerica Life Insurance Company has agreed to settle a class action lawsuit brought on behalf of policyholders across the United...

Commissioner Lara Should Reject Farmers’ Auto Insurance Rate Hikes and Stop Surcharges Aimed At COVID-19 First Responders and Emergency Workers, Says Consumer Watchdog

Daniel Sternberg - March 31, 2020

Los Angeles, CA – Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara should reject Farmers Insurance Group’s proposed 6.5–6.9% auto insurance rate increases and its 3-tiered rating system...

Insurance Lobbyists Launch Propaganda Campaign to Protect Their Ability To Overcharge Poor & Minority Drivers

Carmen Balber - March 10, 2020

Sacramento, CA -- The American Property Casualty Insurance Association (APCIA) has launched a deceptive website, at http://www.protectourdiscounts.org, and advertising campaign to protect insurers’ ability...

Proposed Rule Moves Department of Insurance Closer to Banning Illegal Price Discrimination Against Low-Income Drivers and Communities of Color

Daniel Sternberg - March 2, 2020

In comments submitted on proposed regulations Consumer Watchdog said rule could ban discrimination based on drivers’ occupation and education level; called for key amendments...

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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