Insurance

Redfern pushes for insurance commissioner

February 4, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">News Herald (Port Clinton, OH)</p> <p>California residents voted in 1988 to begin electing an insurance commissioner. Since then, according to the California-based Foundation for Taxpayer & Consumer Rights, automobile liability premiums declined by more than 22 percent.</p>

Woman, Denied Representation, Lives Life of Constant Pain

February 3, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h2>Cynthia Smith - Concord, California</h2> <p>Cynthia Smith always had been active, despite having multiple sclerosis most of her life. She grew up in Vermont, where she ice skated and joined in all the other outdoor activities that people do in cold climes. As an adult, she remained vigorous, training horses among other things. Now, at 58, Cynthia sits in a wheelchair in northern California, in constant pain from steel rods in her leg. One leg is shorter than the other. She is angry and depressed.<br /> <br />

15 Years of Physicians’ Lies Uncovered

February 3, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h2> Janet Mitchell - Orange, CA</h2> <p> <img class=" size-full wp-image-1944" alt="" class="left" src="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2004/02/images_004911.jpg" style="width: 150px; height: 220px; " width="150" height="220" />One day in the early 1990s, Janet Mitchell's doctor took her aside and told her that the doctor who had operated on her leg 15 years earlier had botched the job, and that mistake was responsible for the years of suffering that followed. The doctor who spilled the beans knew what he was talking about; he had been assisting in the original surgery.<br /> <br />

Fantastic Consumer Protection Week

February 3, 2004  ·  Jamie Court

<font face="verdana,sans-serif" size="2">Arnold Schwarzenegger's declaration of this week as "California Consumer Protection Week" is like George W. Bush declaring February "Give Peace A Chance" month. Since taking...</font>

OP-ED: Arnold needs to terminate rapid rise in health care costs

January 31, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Alameda Times-Star</p> <p>The inescapable conclusion: The health care delivery system in California is putrid and decayed. It is sucking the life out of patients. It needs a strong leader to fix it.</p>

Another Kick Back for Car Dealers?

January 31, 2004  ·  Jamie Court

<font face="verdana,sans-serif" size="2">A report released this week by the Consumer Federation of America found that car dealers routinely mark-up car prices through a common bait-and-switch scheme. Car manufacturer financing...</font>

Oklahoma Senator calls for reform of insurance industry

January 29, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Journal Record Legislative Report (Oklahoma)</p> <p>"Insurance premiums and profits are what need to be capped, not payments to people who are truly injured," said Sen. Frank Shurden, D-Henryetta.</p>

Garamendi claims bias in auto insurance pricing

January 28, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The San Diego Union-Tribune</p> <p>State Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi said yesterday that auto insurance pricing guidelines used in California are discriminatory and can cause a wide discrepancy in the cost of insurance from one neighborhood to the next.</p>

Insurers Still Favor ZIP Code Over Driving Record;

January 27, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Garamendi considers changing rules that he says are unfair to urban drivers. He faces the opposition of industry, rural lawmakers.</h3><p class="source">The Los Angeles Times</p> <p>Garamendi does not need the support of the Legislature to change the regulations, but he is seeking legislative support on other issues and has responded to Wolk and other lawmakers who have expressed concern. He has promised to hold hearings in rural are</p>

Debt Due

January 27, 2004  ·  Jamie Court

<font face="verdana,sans-serif" size="2">It turns out California's knight in shining armor was riding a stolen horse. A Sacramento Court ruled late this afternoon that Arnold violated campaign finance laws in the days just before the...</font>

BOARD CHANGE COULD SHAPE WORKERS’ COMP REFORM

January 25, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The Daily News of Los Angeles</p> <p>"The key tool that is currently missing from the market is regulation of the industry," said Doug Heller, a senior consumer advocate at The Foundation For Taxpayer & Consumer Rights in Santa Monica.</p>

Judge nixes Perata’s insurance law;

January 24, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Measure aimed at fining drivers who allowed policies to lapse</h3><p class="source">Alameda Times-Star (Alameda, CA)</p> <p>A judge has thrown out a car-insurance law written by state Sen. Don Perata, D-Oakland, that consumer and civil rights groups said unfairly targeted low-income drivers.</p>