Insurance

Fraud and Decption in Workers’ Comp Battle

March 18, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<font face="verdana,sans-serif" size="2">Arnold has been campaigning against fraud and deception in the workers compensation system, but there's new deception in his campaign to change the system. Arnold has received $452,000 in...</font>

Schwarzenegger appoints former assemblywoman to head DCA

March 17, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Associated Press</p> <p>Doug Heller, executive director of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, said Zettel didn't belong in the consumer protection post.</p>

HEALTH PREMIUMS SOAR;

March 17, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>EMPLOYERS PASS ON MORE OF COST TO WORKERS</h3><p class="source">The Daily News of Los Angeles</p> <p>"Premiums keep going up because of the huge profits and administrative costs these insurers are taking," said Jerry Flanagan, advocate on health-care reform for FTCR. "Furthermore, premiums are increasing 250 percent faster than medical inflation."</p>

Ex-Lawmaker Named to Head Consumer Affairs Department

March 17, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Los Angeles Times</p> <p>"The obligation of the Department of Consumer Affairs is to protect consumers. And if you have no record of that and, indeed, a record that is antagonistic to consumer rights, then you don't belong in that post," said Doug Heller with FTCR.</p>

Cases against California lawmakers fail to get equal attention

March 17, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Sacramento Bee</p> <p>The selective attitude about delving into allegations of misconduct is being demonstrated anew in two other cases.</p>

Murphy’s Law?

March 15, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<font face="verdana,sans-serif" size="2">Arnold has generally managed to avoid the old assurance that if it can go wrong, it will. Instead he's followed another Murphy's law: his top political adviser Mike Murphy's, which seems to be...</font>

Supremes Limit Punitive Damages

March 13, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>In a little noticed ruling, the Supreme Court curbed juries' ability to punish corporate misdeeds.</h3><p class="source">Dollars and Sense Magazine</p> <p>Juries will no longer have the power to do what the jury in the GM case successfully did-punish a corporate defendant in a way that ensures it truly pays a price for its crimes.</p>

Arnold’s $800,000 Star Chamber

March 13, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<font face="verdana,sans-serif" size="2">What happens when you mix Arnold's star quality with a private commission that looks like it was drawn up by the Chamber of Commerce? You get the Star Chamber that the Governor has dubbed his...</font>

Donabedian v. Mercury Insurance

March 12, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Court of Appeal decision</h3>

Consumers Can Sue Insurers Over Rates, Appeals Court Says

March 12, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<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>

County goes to bat for rural drivers

March 11, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<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>

Schwarzenegger names donors, supporters to Calif jobs panel

March 11, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<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>