United Policyholders weighs in on insurance dispute between Office Depot and AIG
United Policyholders weighs in on insurance dispute between Office Depot and AIG

As the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is set to hear arguments in a coverage dispute between Office Depot and AIG, an amicus curiae brief was filed by nonprofit United Policyholders. The dispute stems from AIG’s denial of coverage to Office Depot after a…
3 Key D&O Insurance Cases To Watch In 2018
3 Key D&O Insurance Cases To Watch In 2018

Courts around the country are set to grapple with critical coverage issues under directors and officers insurance policies in 2018, including at what point a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission investigation triggers coverage and when an insurer can withhold consent for a policyholder’s settlement. Here,…
Now that’s coverage — Insurers sent private fire crews to homes threatened by the Thomas Fire
Now that’s coverage — Insurers sent private fire crews to homes threatened by the Thomas Fire

Debra Salem-Drake was packing to evacuate as a wildfire moved within a half-mile of her Ventura home when she got a surprising call. Her insurance company was offering to come spray her home with fire-blocking gel…for free. It was Dec. 5, the second day of…
Insurance Companies Require Written Inventory From Fire Victims’ Burned Homes
Insurance Companies Require Written Inventory From Fire Victims’ Burned Homes

When the overnight firestorm raged through Santa Rosa in October, nothing in the three-bedroom house at 1445 Starview Court survived. “Nothing,” said homeowner Holly Webb. “It’s all gone.” And so, Webb was stunned when State Farm told her that getting the full $237,000 listed on…
Insurance Cases to Watch in 2018
Insurance Cases to Watch in 2018

Courts across the country are primed to grapple with critical insurance issues in 2018, including whether email-based theft schemes trigger computer fraud coverage and whether policyholders must foot the bill for pollution claims in years insurance was unavailable for those risks. Here, Law360 breaks down…
Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones releases report addressing fire insurance availability issues: Nearly half of California counties have housing rated at high or very high fire risk
Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones releases report addressing fire insurance availability issues: Nearly half of California counties have housing rated at high or very high fire risk

California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones today released a report on the growing problem of homeowners fire insurance availability and affordability in many areas throughout the state. The report recommends needed changes in law-the legislature should enact to effectively address the growing problem, which is likely…
Some homeowners lose insurance coverage as wildfire risks rise
Some homeowners lose insurance coverage as wildfire risks rise

Two days before Christmas, Oakland hills resident Anil Prasad got a letter in the mail saying his longtime home insurance wouldn’t be renewed, citing his property’s location “in an ineligible brush area.” The company offered to reinstate his policy but said it wouldn’t cover damage…
State presses insurers to waive inventory requirement for North Bay fire victims
State presses insurers to waive inventory requirement for North Bay fire victims

State Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones on Thursday urged insurance companies to provide North Bay fire victims up to 100 percent of their personal property coverage limits without requiring them to fill out a detailed inventory. Jones’ notice came as an increasing number of local fire…
As California fires blaze, homeowners fear losing insurance
As California fires blaze, homeowners fear losing insurance

California homeowners and regulators have a new fear about wildfires ravaging the state: that insurers will drop coverage. Massive, out-of-season fires in northern and southern California are causing billions of dollars in claims and challenging expectations of when and where to expect blazes. State law…
CT Supreme Court Issues Punitive Damages Ruling Favorable to Policyholders
CT Supreme Court Issues Punitive Damages Ruling Favorable to Policyholders

In a decision to be officially released on December 19, 2017, the Connecticut Supreme Court broadened the circumstances in which policyholders may receive insurance coverage for punitive damage awards. The decision in Nationwide Mutual Ins. Co v. Pasiak, SC 19618, rejected the argument that “in…
Homeowners Fear Losing Insurance in Midst of California Fires
Homeowners Fear Losing Insurance in Midst of California Fires

California homeowners and regulators have a new fear about wildfires ravaging the state: that insurers will drop coverage. Massive, out-of-season fires in northern and southern California are causing billions of dollars in claims and challenging expectations of when and where to expect blazes. State law…
Hundreds of fire victims finding themselves vastly underinsured
Hundreds of fire victims finding themselves vastly underinsured

Hundreds of Sonoma County residents who lost their homes in the October wildfires say they are finding themselves underinsured and many are pressing their cases with their homeowners’ insurance carriers. Many displaced homeowners are discovering that they will likely have to pay tens to hundreds…
Home insurance? Use it and you may lose it
Home insurance? Use it and you may lose it

Millions of homeowners battered by hurricanes, tossed about by tornadoes or scorched by statewide wildfires this disaster-filled record year have filed insurance claims for the damage done. And it could wind up totaling $150 billion or more. But now there’s a dire warning from a…
Nonprofit Backs Office Depot In False Claims Coverage Row
Nonprofit Backs Office Depot In False Claims Coverage Row

A nonprofit policyholder group has urged the Ninth Circuit to revive a coverage dispute between Office Depot and a unit of AIG, arguing that the lower court ruling could drastically curtail coverage in California False Claims Act cases. U.S. District Judge Stephen V. Wilson had…
Insurance gap may leave fire victims on the hook for millions
Insurance gap may leave fire victims on the hook for millions

SANTA ROSA, Calif. KTVU) – Some North Bay Fire victims may find their homes underinsured by hundreds of thousands of dollars. It’s a big surprise that is not uncommon after disasters. In recent years, state insurance regulators have taken action to minimize the issue. “I…
Some under-insured North Bay fire victims in for a shock
Some under-insured North Bay fire victims in for a shock

SANTA ROSA, Calif. KGO) — Fire victims working to start the rebuilding process may be in for a shock. After running the numbers, some homeowners are finding they are under-insured. Residents in hazmat suits are searching through rubble, taking photos of what’s left after the…
Liz Weston: 4 Steps to Disaster-Proof Your Finances
Liz Weston: 4 Steps to Disaster-Proof Your Finances

Mother Nature could be excused if she wondered, “How much more prompting do you people need?” This year delivered epic wildfires, devastating hurricanes, massive floods and some pretty horrific earthquakes. Yet many people still haven’t taken a few critical steps to protect their financial lives…
Have questions about fire insurance? Check out the meeting on Weds.
Have questions about fire insurance? Check out the meeting on Weds.

MENDOCINO CO., 11/07/17 — Confused about how to handle questions about insurance and the recent fire? Mendocino County is holding a meeting to provide information on insurance issues for people who are rebuilding their homes in the wake of the recent fires. The meeting will…