Video

KCAL CBS TV-9 Los Angeles – New Proposition Aims To Curb Prescription Drug Abuse

March 22, 2014 · ConsumerWatchdog

Supporters on Monday are expected to submit more than 800,000 signatures to put the medical reform measure, which would also require doctors to submit to drug tests and make it harder for prescription drug abusers to get their pills, on the November ballot. Consumer Watchdog's Jamie Court told KCAL9's Dave Bryan that doctors just don't want to change.

KNBC TV-4 Los Angeles – DTSC Results On Exide Lead

March 18, 2014 · ConsumerWatchdog

Officials with the state Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) announced they had found extremely high levels of lead in homes, schools and a park near Exide Technologies. The state believes the lead pollution came from the Vernon plant. Almost every home tested had levels of lead in the soil that exceeded 80 parts per million, the level at which California recommends further health-related evaluations.

KOVR CBS TV-13 Sacramento – California DMV Holds Hearing On Driverless Cars

March 12, 2014 · ConsumerWatchdog

It's coming, "driverless cars" could be commercially available sooner than you think. The California DMV held a public hearing to solicit ideas on how to integrate driverless cars — sometimes called "autonomous vehicles" — onto public roads.California regulators are now listening to issues data privacy and security.

KTTV Fox-11 Los Angeles – LA Schools & Homes In Danger From Exide Lead

March 12, 2014 · ConsumerWatchdog

The Department of Toxic Substances Control ordered environmental testing of soil at 39 homes and two schools near the Exide facility in East Los Angeles. Supervisor Gloria Molina says state regulators haven't been doing enough to close the Exide plant in Vernon, which was ordered to conduct further testing after the elevated lead levels were found. All of the homes tested positive for levels of lead that require additional testing and evaluation.

KTLA TV-5 Los Angles – Health Warnings Issued For Elevated Levels Of Lead

March 11, 2014 · ConsumerWatchdog

California Governor Jerry Brown intervened in the case of Vernon lead battery recycler Exide Technologies that has threatened public health with hazardous emissions of lead. The governor discussed the case with regulators at the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC), which revealed that testing of soil at 39 area homes and 2 schools showed unacceptably high levels of lead.

KTVU TV-2 Investigates: Family Solicited For Hospital Donations After Child’s Death

March 6, 2014 · Consumer Watchdog

Some tragedies at hospitals might be unavoidable, but a mother and father who lost their 21 month old daughter at Children's Hospital Oakland say it's what happened after their daughter's death that has continued to torment them. The parents of Morgan Westhoff say they've continued to receive mail and other communication from the hospital, including surveys and repeated requests for donations.

Jamie Court Talks to the California Assembly About Retailer Data Breach

February 18, 2014 · ConsumerWatchdog

The California Assembly Judiciary and Assembly Banking and Finance Committees gathered today to discuss the data breaches atcompanies such as Target, Neiman Marcus and Michaels. Target and Neiman Marcus refused to attend. Jamie Court, president of Consumer Watchdog, appears before the committees to talk about why it happened and what can be done.

KCRA – Los Angeles – Retailers fail to appear for data breach hearings

February 18, 2014 · ConsumerWatchdog

Lawmakers invited representatives of Target and Neiman Marcus to testify at a California hearing of the Judiciary and Banking and Finance committees, after the retailers experienced massive security breaches that compromised millions of consumers' personal data this past winter. The two companies declined to participate. Consumer Watchdog's Jamie Court did participate and give startling testimony that effects 1 in 4 Americans.

KTTV Fox Los Angles – Will the Google / Time Warner merger mean bad business for consumers?

February 16, 2014 · ConsumerWatchdog

Since deregulation of the television industry in 1996, rates have more than doubled. The legislation was heralded as good for consumers, bnut was anything but. This past week, the two largest providers: Time Warner Cable and Comcast announced a merger worth $45 billion that they claimed was great for consumers and competition. John Simpson of Consumer Watchdog discusses what may be next for consumers.

KNBC TV-4 Los Angeles – Comcast Is Taking Over Time Warner, Will Customers Suffer?

February 14, 2014 · ConsumerWatchdog

Comcast and Time Warner has proposed a merger to unite the two media giants. The American Consumer Satisfaction Index ranked both companies' television and Internet services the lowest in the nation. Will this monopoly bring lower prices, or angry customers? John Simpson held a press conference today to talk about the concerns many of us are having about the future of our cable and internet bills.

KCBS TV-2 Los Angeles – Will A Comcast & Time Warner Merger Mean Higher Prices For The Consumer?

February 14, 2014 · ConsumerWatchdog

Comcast and Time Warner's planned $44 billion merger may not bring much joy for their subscribers.The combined company would bring cable or Internet service to about a third of American subscribers. That would give Comcast, which is already the nation's largest TV, Internet and home phone provider, an even more sizable lead on its rivals. Jame Court discusses the implications of an even larger media content monopoly.

KTTV TV-11 Fox Los Angeles – Should Smartphones Be Required To Have A Kill Switch?

February 10, 2014 · ConsumerWatchdog

Consumer Watchdog's John M. Simpson discusses the implications of allowing carriers to disable your smart phone remotely. California state Senator Mark Leno has authored new bill in hopes that the wireless industry would wake up to the realities of high phone theft statistics in California. If enacted into law, it would effect all carriers of modern smartphones. Mobile phone theft accounts for almost one in three US robberies, according to the Federal Communications Commission.