Insurance

Consumer Advocates Sue Insurance Commissioner Lara For Punishing Public Participation In Prop 103 Rulemakings

July 30, 2025  ·  Will Pletcher

Lawsuit Alleges Improper Denial of Compensation, Hostility Toward Consumer Advocacy Groups, and Biased Process Los Angeles, CA — Consumer Watchdog and the Consumer Federation of...

Consumer Watchdog Responds to Commissioner Lara Fake News: Case That Lara Rules Violate the FAIR Plan Statute Is Going Forward

July 23, 2025  ·  Will Pletcher

Los Angeles, CA – Today, a Los Angeles Superior Court judge adopted a ruling allowing Consumer Watchdog’s lawsuit to move forward against Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara, rejecting...

Court Greenlights Consumer Lawsuit Challenging Insurance Commissioner’s Unlawful Pass-Through Surcharges Under FAIR Plan 

July 22, 2025  ·  Will Pletcher

Los Angeles, CA — A Los Angeles Superior Court judge today finalized a ruling that allows Consumer Watchdog’s lawsuit to proceed against Insurance Commissioner Lara and...

What’s Up with Insurance in Sacramento?

July 17, 2025  ·  Carmen Balber

With FAIR Plan enrollment increasing daily the legislature has still not taken up the one thing that could stabilize access to home insurance in California:...

Lowball: What Fire Survivors Want You To Know About Insurance Claims

July 2, 2025  ·  Justin Kloczko

Table of Contents Introduction1 Don’t Rush: Test for Toxins Before Cleaning4 Know What Tests Miss9 Walk the Loss with the Insurance Adjuster10 Smoke Damage is Fire Damage12 Push Back on Cosmetic Insurance Fixes14 Know Your Policy16 Make a Record!17 Persistence Pays18…

Lowball: What Fire Survivors Want You To Know About Insurance Claims

July 1, 2025  ·  Justin Kloczko

As thousands of policyholders navigate the home insurance claims process in California following the Eaton and Pacific Palisades fires, many are finding out that the damage wrought on their still standing homes by smoke and heat isn’t being paid for.

State Farm Cites Newly Announced CDI Market Conduct Exam to Oppose Consumer Participation in Rate Hearing

June 13, 2025  ·  Will Pletcher

Los Angeles, CA — At a hearing today before the California Department of Insurance, State Farm opposed Pacific Palisades homeowner Merritt David Farren’s petition to...

State Farm Investigation Must Conclude Before Rate Hike Approved Says Consumer Watchdog 

June 12, 2025  ·  Carmen Balber

Los Angeles, CA —  Consumer Watchdog issued the following statement on Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara’s announcement today of a market conduct examination into State Farm claims handling...

Common Dreams – Wildfire Survivors ‘Deserve Better,’ Advocates Say as California Approves State Farm Rate Hike

May 14, 2025  ·  Consumer Watchdog

Regulators like California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara “need to hold insurance giants like State Farm accountable to paying out what they owe, not reward them...

Commissioner Lara Approves Unjustified $749 Million State Farm Home Insurance Rate Hike

May 13, 2025  ·  Carmen Balber

UPDATED 1:40PM Los Angeles, CA – A proposed decision recommending approval of State Farm General’s request for an interim rate hike was issued by an Administrative...

Consumer Watchdog Sues to Stop Hundreds of Millions of Dollars in Unjustified Surcharges from Being Imposed on California Homeowners

April 15, 2025  ·  Ryan Mellino

Los Angeles, CA – Consumer Watchdog sued the California Department of Insurance and Commissioner Ricardo Lara to protect California homeowners from hundreds of millions in surcharges...

Consumer Watchdog Urges Denial of State Farm’s Emergency Rate Hike at Conclusion of Department of Insurance Hearing

April 10, 2025  ·  Carmen Balber

Los Angeles, CA – Consumer Watchdog delivers its closing argument today in a high-stakes hearing before the California Department of Insurance, urging the Insurance Commissioner to...