Insurance

State calls on McGeorge prof

July 6, 2000  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Interim insurance chief vows restored trust</h3><p class="source">Sacramento Bee</p> <p>In a move intended to douse lingering whiffs of scandal at the Department of Insurance, state leaders acted Wednesday to name a well-known law professor at McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento, J. Clark Kelso, to temporarily replace Insurance Commissioner</p>

Insurance Reform in California: The 1988 Insurance Wars

July 1, 2000  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p> California is the single biggest market for insurance in the nation. Between 1985 and 1987, insurance premiums in California rose dramatically. In 1986 alone, automobile premiums in California increased by 22%, while the consumer price index increased 3.1%. The increases led to public outrage.¹<br /> <br /> During 1987, California consumer advocacy groups sponsored legislation that would have instituted limited regulation of property-casualty insurance premiums, including auto insurance, and repeal of the industry's exemption from state antitrust laws.<br /> <br />

New Program Offers Car Insurance For Low-Income Drivers

July 1, 2000  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Los Angeles Times</p> <p>In a move to provide affordable auto insurance, state Sen. Martha Escutia (D-Montebello) and consumer advocates announced Friday a trial low-cost insurance program for the working poor of Los Angeles County.</p>

New California Department of Managed Care To Open Saturday

June 30, 2000  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Associated Press</p> <p>The new state Department of Managed Health Care, part of an overhaul of the beleaguered HMO system, opens Saturday, with the challenge of restoring consumer confidence after one of the state's biggest political scandals in years.</p>

Low-income car insurance program tested on West Coast

June 30, 2000  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Associated Press</p> <p>A plan to reduce the number of uninsured motorists by lowering premiums in Los Angeles and San Francisco begins Saturday with civic leaders across the nation watching to see if it could work elsewhere.</p>

California Offers Low-Cost Auto Insurance to Poor Motorists

June 30, 2000  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">CNN -- The World Today</p> <p>While you're on the crowded highways this weekend, you might stop to consider whether the drivers around you have insurance. California has one of the highest estimates of uninsured drivers, 26 percent. It's trying something different to solve that proble</p>

So Much for the ‘Witch Hunt’

June 26, 2000  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Times Editorial</h3><p class="source">Los Angeles Times</p> <p>The mystery is over. It turns out that the documents that triggered an investigation of state Insurance Commissioner Chuck Quackenbush were leaked by a veteran lawyer for the Department of Insurance, hired by one of Quackenbush's Republican predecessors.</p>

Public information: Why are legislators helping hide the truth?

June 26, 2000  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Bee Editorial</h3><p class="source">Sacramento Bee</p> <p>At the same time legislators express justifiable outrage over the troubling activities of Insurance Commissioner Chuck Quackenbush, they've taken action to make future misconduct by public agencies and insurance companies hard to uncover.</p>

Probed firms donated to Quackenbush: His department says funds didn’t affect enforcement action

June 25, 2000  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Sacramento Bee</p> <p>Insurance Commissioner Chuck Quackenbush has taken campaign contributions at least nine times from companies that were either under investigation or facing enforcement actions by his department, The Bee has found.</p>

Insurance Lawyer Gets Immunity for Hearings

June 24, 2000  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>She testifies Monday -- Quackenbush aides also subpoenaed</h3><p class="source">San Francisco Chronicle</p> <p>The woman who has emerged as the key whistle blower in the investigation of Insurance Commissioner Chuck Quackenbush will be given immunity when she testifies Monday before an Assembly committee, sources told The Chronicle yesterday.</p>

Whistle-Blower Emerges in Quackenbush Probe

June 23, 2000  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Scandal: Staffer provided documents, saying she could no longer tolerate misconduct.</h3><p class="source">Los Angeles Times</p> <p>A senior lawyer for the state Department of Insurance, saying she could no longer remain silent about what she viewed as egregious wrongdoing under Insurance Commissioner Chuck Quackenbush,</p>

Quackenbush’s Deals With Title Companies Raise Eyebrows

June 23, 2000  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">San Francisco Chronicle</p> <p>Still more questions popping up about Insurance Commissioner Chuck Quackenbush's self- serving use of nonprofit "consumer education'' foundations that were set up with penalty settlement funds collected from the state's title and insurance companies.</p>