Court rejects FAIR Plan’s policy of reduced insurance payments for homeowners in lower income neighborhoods
Court rejects FAIR Plan’s policy of reduced insurance payments for homeowners in lower income neighborhoods

FAIR Plan said the cost of repairing the lower income fire-damaged home wasn’t required, even though similar loss in a wealthy neighborhood would be covered. On Friday, May 26, homeowner Marlene Garnes won a legal victory against California FAIR Plan Association FAIR) when the California…
Justices Back Calif. Insurance Commissioner in Feud With Industry
Justices Back Calif. Insurance Commissioner in Feud With Industry

The California Supreme Court dealt property insurers a blow on Monday, reversing lower court rulings that had limited the state insurance commissioner’s authority and blocked a rule the industry had slammed as overly prescriptive and burdensome. The lawsuit by two state industry trade associations challenged…
25 years later: Oakland hills ripe for another firestorm
25 years later: Oakland hills ripe for another firestorm

Twenty-five years after a horrific firestorm killed 25 people and wiped out nearly 3,500 homes in the Oakland hills, the conditions are ripe once again for a similar — if not worse — disaster. The 1991 inferno led to improved policies and equipment for fire…
Black Forest Fire victim advises Beulah Hill Fire victims
Black Forest Fire victim advises Beulah Hill Fire victims

Sherri Bertrand shares experience of losing home. A previous wildfire victim in El Paso County is offering advice to victims of a recent fire in Pueblo County. Sherri Bertrand of Black Forest said she was out of town the first week of the Beulah Hill…
Roadmap to Recovery Workshop – Clayton Fire (Clearlake, CA)
Roadmap to Recovery Workshop – Clayton Fire (Clearlake, CA)

United Policyholders is hosting its first Roadmap to Recovery workshop for Clayton Fire survivors in partnership with UMCOR and Team Lake County on September 6, 2016. The workshop will start at 6PM and will be at the Clearlake United Methodist Church, 14521 Pearl Ave, Clearlake, CA 95422. Karen Reimus will cover insurance recovery orientation…
Valley Fire Workshop: October 8th at 6pm
Valley Fire Workshop: October 8th at 6pm

UP is hosting a Roadmap to Recovery workshop for Valley Fire survivors this Thursday at 6pm at Middletown High School. This workshop is an insurance recovery orientation and will provide information on navigating the insurance claim process. There will be a Q&A session after the workshop if you have…
Insurance nightmare continues for Mountain Shadows family
Insurance nightmare continues for Mountain Shadows family

Three years after the Waldo Canyon Fire, many homeowners still struggle with their insurance claims. Paul and Jennifer Macomber have been at odds with their insurance company, American Family Insurance, since the fire started in June 2012. Their home in Mountain Shadows wasn’t a total…
Thursday marks anniversary and deadline for Black Forest Fire victims
Thursday marks anniversary and deadline for Black Forest Fire victims

Thursday marks two years since the state’s most destructive wildfire, but it also marks a deadline for insurance policies related to the Black Forest Fire. According to United Policyholders, key deadlines include the expiration of additional living expenses/loss of use benefits, a firm deadline for…
Waldo Canyon, Black Forest fire victims see dissimilar outcomes
Waldo Canyon, Black Forest fire victims see dissimilar outcomes

It was the worst of fires – and then came another one even worse. It was a fire in a subdivision and then it was one in a wooded, rural community. It was a fire of quick rebuilding and then it was one where the…
Property owners face important deadlines on second anniversary of wildfire
Property owners face important deadlines on second anniversary of wildfire

El Paso County, CO, April 29, 2015 – With the two year anniversary of the Black Forest Fire approaching El Paso County reminds property owners to keep in mind important insurance deadlines. “Residents impacted by the Black Forest Fire need to meet certain deadlines in…
United Policyholders has been with us through three disasters: Lean on me
United Policyholders has been with us through three disasters: Lean on me

Leigh Candelas was one of the lucky ones. When the Black Forest Fire consumed much of her neighborhood last summer, her house survived. But the situation wasn’t as rosy as it appeared. There was significant damage to her home, and after her insurance company paid…