For L.A. Residents Whose Homes Burned, Aging Complicates What Comes Next
For L.A. Residents Whose Homes Burned, Aging Complicates What Comes Next

Sandra and Tom Johnson were at home in Los Angeles County one January night, watching the news of the Palisades fire on television, when a neighbor knocked on the door. He wanted them to see it: flames in the mountains in nearby Eaton Canyon. Within…
Officials issue warning as California homeowners are faced with unexpected obstacle in wake of catastrophe
Officials issue warning as California homeowners are faced with unexpected obstacle in wake of catastrophe

As wildfires become more frequent and destructive in the U.S., surviving homeowners are being hit with a second wave of hardship — from their insurance companies. In California, where fire risk is especially high, some residents are being denied insurance coverage, leaving them with costly…
Why the insure-to-value discussion is more important than ever
Why the insure-to-value discussion is more important than ever

As Greater Los Angeles moves forward with cleanup and rebuilding efforts following the January wildfires, many property owners may soon face another wave of distress. In an interview with CNBC, Amy Bach, executive director of nonprofit consumer advocacy group United Policyholders, shared that as many…
State’s new fire maps won’t push up insurance rates, industry says
State’s new fire maps won’t push up insurance rates, industry says

After seeing his premiums quadruple in the past three years, Shawn Faircloth wondered if a new wildfire designation could spell yet another insurance hike for his San Juan Capistrano home. “I’m assuming they will leverage up my rates even more,” said Faircloth, 49, whose home…
Tornadoes will become more frequent in coming weeks. Here’s what to know if your home is destroyed
Tornadoes will become more frequent in coming weeks. Here’s what to know if your home is destroyed

An average of 1,200 tornadoes hit the United States yearly, and the country will probably get more killer supercells spawning tornadoes and hail as the world warms, according to a 2023 study. That study also warns the severe storms are edging eastward to strike more…
A broken system is keeping California homes underinsured. Millions have no idea they’re at risk
A broken system is keeping California homes underinsured. Millions have no idea they’re at risk

Using faulty algorithms and flawed processes, the state’s biggest insurance companies routinely underestimate what their clients will need to rebuild. For wildfire survivors, it’s a gut punch at the worst possible time. Mike Kubo had found only enough time to grab a few bags of…
Fire Resiliency in the Santa Fe Region
Fire Resiliency in the Santa Fe Region

LISTEN Santa Fe’s fire season is fast approaching but there’s still time for property owners to take action to protect their homes from the effects of a devastating fire. In this second of a two-part series on fire risk and home insurance in Santa Fe,…
Insuring New Mexicans as Fire Season Approaches
Insuring New Mexicans as Fire Season Approaches

LISTEN It appears to be “all hands on deck” as the Santa Fe area enters a new fire season. Legislators, insurers, fire departments and property owners all play a part in making sure the region is prepared, but many property owners don’t have the information…
Calif. State Farm Meeting Raises Solvency Concerns
Calif. State Farm Meeting Raises Solvency Concerns

State Farm’s emergency request for a 22% premium increase in California has raised questions about the insurer’s financial health, but a prominent consumer group says the carrier hasn’t justified that request… Download PDF to read.
California Insurance: Intervening, Interfering
California Insurance: Intervening, Interfering

In insurance circles Florida and California have the dubious distinction of being perennial problem children for home and auto insurance. In both states insurance markets have been severely disrupted by unique factors unknown in any other state. In Florida, the disruptor was litigation gone wild.…
Your building survived the fire, but is it safe?
Your building survived the fire, but is it safe?

The massive fires destroyed entire communities, but even in these fire zones and nearby, some buildings survived. The question is – are they habitable? Dana from Pacific Palisades sent us her concerns through Ask 7: “My landlord is pushing for the tenants to move back…
L.A. homeowners fight insurers over smoke damage coverage after fires
L.A. homeowners fight insurers over smoke damage coverage after fires

Clashes over covering smoke damage have become a growing issue in recent years as wildfires intensify and home insurance companies look for ways to limit their financial risks. Read more.
State: Home insurance companies can’t cancel policies based solely on aerial photos
State: Home insurance companies can’t cancel policies based solely on aerial photos

The department that oversees private insurance in New Hampshire has warned companies that it takes more than an aerial photo or two of a house to make decisions about issuing a policy. “The Department has received several complaints in recent months in which certain carriers…
Advocate answers questions about home insurance and wildfire recovery
Advocate answers questions about home insurance and wildfire recovery

After the Palisades Fire and Eaton Fire destroyed and damaged thousands of homes across Los Angeles County, residents are being forced to navigate the complicated landscape of home and renter insurance. ABC7 Eyewitness News received dozens of questions about home insurance and wildfire recovery. Anchor…
Calif. Subrogation Bill Sets Insurers Against Oil Cos.
Calif. Subrogation Bill Sets Insurers Against Oil Cos.

A California bill that would incentivize insurers to recoup disaster losses from oil and gas companies is being hailed by supporters as a novel way to hold large polluters accountable for… Download PDF to read.
NC COVID Ruling May Have Greater Coverage Implications
NC COVID Ruling May Have Greater Coverage Implications

While the North Carolina Supreme Court’s recent finding in favor of policyholders in a suit for business interruption coverage due to COVID-19 comes too late for most insureds to benefit, it should nonetheless have coverage implications far beyond COVID-19 claims, say attorneys at Robinson Bradshaw.…
CA Wildfires Vol. 5 – California’s Insurance Crisis: How Did We Get Here?
CA Wildfires Vol. 5 – California’s Insurance Crisis: How Did We Get Here?

In this vital episode of The Legal Lens Podcast, Angela Reddock-Wright speaks with Amy Bach, Executive Director of United Policyholders, about the California insurance crisis, wildfire recovery, and what homeowners need to know about filing claims. Amy and her organization, United Policyholders, have spent over…
Fire insurance woes
Fire insurance woes

How do I get my insurance to pay for testing of my home for toxins after the fires that raged through L.A. neighborhoods in January? What if my insurance adjuster says they won’t cover a long-term rental? How can I get help navigating the claims…