Donabedian v. Mercury Insurance
<h3>Court of Appeal decision</h3>
Insurance
Consumers Can Sue Insurers Over Rates, Appeals Court Says
<p>
<b>The decision in a case filed against a Mercury General unit upholds a key part of the auto reform Proposition 103.</b></p>
Schwarzenegger names donors, supporters to Calif jobs panel
<p class="source">Associated Press</p>
<p>The commission "creates a huge potential for conflicts of interest across the board," said Carmen Balber of FTCR, a consumer advocacy group, comparing it to the controversial industry group that advised VP Dick Cheney on energy issues.</p>
County goes to bat for rural drivers
<h3>Supervisors say insurance rates go up under plan</h3><p class="source">Tulare Advance-Register (Tulare, CA)</p>
<p>A petition before Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi has asked that an investigation of how some factors, such as where a person lives, dictate the cost of car insurance.The petitioners include FTCR and the cities of LA, SF and Oakland.</p>
Kaiser campaign donation chided
<p class="source">Oakland Tribune</p>
<p>"Kaiser has invested$100,000 of our premium dollars into removing consumer rights and accountability," said Jerry Flanagan of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights.</p>
Insurance rates for vehicles discussed
<h3>Residents at a Fresno hearing voice concerns about increases.</h3><p class="source">Fresno Bee (California)</p>
<p>Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi said "This system is unfair. You ask the industry or others why it happens and they shrug their shoulders. ... The insurance industry says this will raise rates throughout California. That is a lie."</p>
Car Consumers Lose a Champion
<font face="verdana,sans-serif" size="2">In his speeches, Arnold
extolls the Golden Age of California. However, his actions as governor
- including a freeze on all pending government regulations, a rehash of
every rule passed in the...</font>
NUMBER OF BOGUS HEALTH INSURANCE ISSUERS PROLIFERATING
<p class="source">The Daily News of Los Angeles</p>
<p>"The problem is that the rise in unlicensed plans is a symptom of the affordability crisis in the California market," said Jerry Flanagan, health care advocate FTCR in Santa Monica. "And oftentimes there is no promise for health care savings."</p>
ALLSTATE SETTLES CALIFORNIA INSURANCE-SCORING DISPUTE FOR $3 MILLION
<p class="source">BestWire</p>
<p>The initiative's sponsor, the Santa Monica-based Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, has argued that consideration of a policyholder's credit history unfairly discriminates against lower-income and minority residents, which Allstate vehemently</p>
Temperature rising: Kaiser’s income soars;
<h3>2003 revenue up despite membership drop</h3><p class="source">Alameda Times-Star (Alameda, CA)</p>
<p>"I'm flabbergasted that a nonprofit could make this kind of money," said Jamie Court, president of FTCR. "For a nonprofit like Kaiser to have almost $1 billion left over is a tribute to the fact that there is no premium regulation."</p>
Allstate Settles Over Use of Credit Scores
<p class="source">Los Angeles Times</p>
<p>The $3-million fine is "a significant warning shot" because "it's important for the insurance industry to realize that it will be punished if it crosses the line on credit scoring," said Doug Heller, executive director of FTCR.</p>
Wanted: your good name: identity theft can ruin your family’s financial history.
<h3>Here's how scammers operate and how you can stop them.</h3><p class="source">Better Homes and Gardens Magazine</p>
<p>Buying personal information is all too easy for tech-savvy theives, says Jamie court, president of the California-based Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights (FTCR)</p>