December 18, 2014 “Use it and lose it” is a very serious threat to the integrity of our insurance system This recent “Share Your Story” email to UP from a Wyoming consumer captures how the “use it and lose it” phenomenon is one of the most serious threats to the integrity of the insurance system today. “We had a fire two years ago. It started…
December 8, 2014 Helping New Jersey residents get fair insurance settlements for Sandy damage Our ongoing work helping New Jersey homeowners get fair insurance settlements for Sandy damage includes: Distributing sample letters and tips for appealing a claim denial and getting a supplemental claim approved for payment and guiding homeowners and the local aid workers engaged in the long term recovery…
December 8, 2014 FEMA says it is investigating allegations of falsified Sandy engineering reports By JOE RYAN joe.ryan@newsday.com An attorney for the Federal Emergency Management Agency Tuesday said the organization was investigating allegations that engineering reports were secretly rewritten after superstorm Sandy to deny claims on government-funded flood insurance policies.FEMA associate general counsel Jordan Fried told a panel of…
December 8, 2014 FEMA RESPONDS TO COMPLAINTS FROM SANDY VICTIMS, AGREEING TO CONSIDER REFORMS Agency announces plan of action, including new advocate, and will reopen nearly 300 closed claimsMonths of pressure from storm survivors and lawmakers in New Jersey and New York culminated Friday with the Federal Emergency Management Agency committing to reform key parts of the National Flood…
December 2, 2014 Win for California Policyholders on Replacement Cost In its November 24, 2014 decision, the California Court of Appeal First District, Division One, reversed a judgment notwithstanding the verdict that an insurer owes a duty to its insured to communicate policy requirements and settle claims fairly. In Stephens & Stephens XII LLC v. Fireman’s Fund Ins.…
December 1, 2014 Three Tidings to Cheer – Amicus Project UPdate Glad tidings…three consumer wins for the Amicus Project: Allstate Property and Casualty Co. v. Jared Wolfe The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania ruled 5-1 in favor of the position we took as a friend of the court, concluding that statutory bad faith damages may be assigned…
November 25, 2014 Purely a bad idea – “Purely Cosmetic” Exclusion Thanks for giving: Your ideas and your skills Thanks for putting UP in your wills! Thanks for the info, donations and scoop Thanks to those who keep us in the loop Now here’s our tip for the month of November A question we want you…
November 23, 2014 Bach Talk – The “Purely Cosmetic Damage” exclusion’s gonna be ugly Thanks to a consumer participation program offered by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, I get up close and personal with the nation’s top insurance regulators three times a year. I’m in my seventh year as an official representative of consumers at the NAIC, and…
November 17, 2014 What a weekend! The UP Team was out and about on Saturday participating in three educational events in San Francisco, Oakland, and San Diego. In San Francisco, UP Executive Director Amy Bach and Staff Attorney Dan Wade joined the Consumer Attorneys of California at their Annual Convention. UP organized…
November 14, 2014 Bach Talk – Appropriately regulating Uber and Lyft Residents of cities throughout the US now have the option to “Uber” or “Lyft” their way to a destination instead of taking a traditional taxicab. These innovative, tech-sector start-up businesses are labeled “Transportation Network Companies”, (“TNCs”). Initially, TNCs avoided having to comply with many of…
November 12, 2014 Bach Talk – Biased expert reports plague policyholders United States Magistrate Judge Gary R. Brown issued a very important decision in a Superstorm Sandy case in November, 2014 that addresses a chronic problem for the policyholders UP serves: A practice by some insurers of rejecting damage claims based on engineering reports that have…
November 6, 2014 More than the minimum The case against purchasing only your state’s mandatory minimum liability insurance limits: Starting in the 1920s, all but one state in the United States (New Hampshire) have passed laws requiring that vehicle owners maintain automobile liability insurance to cover their liabilities for personal injuries or…
November 3, 2014 Governor’s request for Presidential Disaster Declaration for Puna lava flow approved PAHOA, HAWAII (HawaiiNewsNow) – In response to Gov. Neil Abercrombie’s Oct. 24 request for federal aid to supplement local emergency protective measures in response to the June 27th lava flow, President Barack Obama today signed a Disaster Declaration for Public Assistance.This will provide federal funding…
October 30, 2014 Bach Talk – The Powerful Voice of Experience A backbone of our Roadmap to Recovery program are the volunteers and staff members who got involved with UP to make constructive use of the knowledge they themselves gained while navigating the recovery process after a catastrophic loss. Our Survivor’s Speak publication series, workshop speakers…
October 30, 2014 Good News for Napa (and Solano) Earthquake Survivors A FEMA declaration for Individual and Household Assistance has finally been approved for Napa and Solano County earthquake survivors. If you were affected by the earthquake and need assistance you will have 60 days from the October 27th declaration to apply with FEMA. UP participated…
October 22, 2014 Bach Talk – Helping policyholders adapt to climate change “Public dollars also need to go to the equally important, though less glamorous projects and services that will help us prepare for the coming heavy weather. That includes things like hiring more firefighters and improving storm barriers. And it means coming up with new, nonprofit…
October 16, 2014 Shake it UP “Out of sight out of mind, and I prefer it that way” is most Californians’ view of earthquakes. But the UP team sees disasters up close and personal and we know how a few simple preparedness steps can make the difference between recovery and ruin.…
September 29, 2014 Back home safe and sound We’ve worked a lot of disasters. But this month a hurricane hit too close to home. While on a well-deserved vacation in Mexico, our Program Coordinator was caught in the path of Hurricane Odile. After being stranded for 5 days without power, running water, cell…
