The Outrage of Offsets
The Outrage of Offsets

Imagine how you would feel if you suddenly became disabled and couldn’t work. If you were fortunate enough to have private disability insurance to replace some of your lost income, you would at least have the comfort of financial security. But what if you found…
Roadmap to Recovery™ Program Update: June 2009
Roadmap to Recovery™ Program Update: June 2009

Santa Barbara Wildfire Recovery UP is in Santa Barbara assisting homeowners impacted by the Jesusita fire, an unseasonably early wildfire that hit in May. Staffer Rebecca Huston manned a table at the Local Assistance Center the week after the fire. Volunteer and Roadmap Advisor Ken…
Justice for the innocently underinsured, Congrats to SB&E and AKO, Optional Federal Charter: A Bad Idea
Justice for the innocently underinsured, Congrats to SB&E and AKO, Optional Federal Charter: A Bad Idea

A San Bernardino County jury recently delivered justice for Bob Keller, a man who lost his home in a 2003 wildfire then found himself grossly underinsured. Hats off to Ricardo Echevarria, a partner with UP Sponsors Shernoff, Bidart, Darras & Echevarria. Ricardo fought an expensive five-year battle against…
Book Review: Polarizing the Case, by Rick Friedman
Book Review: Polarizing the Case, by Rick Friedman

Polarizing the Case by Rick Friedman This is a book for trial lawyers written by one of the most successful trial lawyers in the United States. But anyone who has ever been a victim of an insurance company’s tactics designed to deny or underpay a…
Board Update: June 2009
Board Update: June 2009

Shirley Roberson UP is thrilled to welcome non-profit executive Shirley Roberson to our Board of Directors. Shirley has been indispensable to United Policyholders since 1997 in various paid and volunteer capacities. Shirley brings a wealth of skills and dedication to the Board. She was a cofounder of…
Amicus Project Update: June 2009
Amicus Project Update: June 2009

Another victory for United Policyholders’ Amicus Project On March 9, 2009, the California Supreme Court ruled in favor of a large policyholder – the State of California – in connection with the State’s insurance claim for the cost of cleaning up the Stringfellow acid pits…
Volunteer Spotlight: June 2009
Volunteer Spotlight: June 2009

Frank Gilbert, Esq. In addition to helping pro bono on numerous matters relating to our business operations and intellectual property matters, Frank Gilbert assisted UP in reaching an informal resolution when a for-profit company was appropriating United Policyholders’ materials and misleading the public. Frank helps protect our…
On the Road(map) to Preparedness
On the Road(map) to Preparedness

UP’s work is divided into three program areas: Roadmap to Recovery™, Roadmap to Preparedness and Advocacy in Action. The Roadmap to Preparedness program grew out of our disaster recovery support work. Through this program, we’re promoting financial and personal preparedness and attacking recovery obstacles such…
When money is tight, follow our tips before cutting or dropping coverage
When money is tight, follow our tips before cutting or dropping coverage

June 2009 When money is tight, follow our tips before cutting or dropping coverage. In these tough economic times, we are all looking for ways to cut expenses. It’s tempting to reduce insurance costs by lowering or dropping coverage. Before you take this risky step,…
Drive Less and Pay Less?
Drive Less and Pay Less?

It’s well known that carbon emissions from automobile exhaust are a leading contributor to global warming. Yet that doesn’t seem to be a compelling enough reason for most people to change their ways and cut back on their driving. Driving less is an excellent way…
Protect Yourself Against Uninsured/Underinsured Drivers
Protect Yourself Against Uninsured/Underinsured Drivers

Insurance experts are linking an increase in the number of uninsured and underinsured drivers on the road with the high unemployment rate and resulting economic pinch that so many Americans are feeling. Despite the laws in all but two states that require all drivers to be financially…
“Pay-As-You-Drive” Insurance Gaining Traction In California
“Pay-As-You-Drive” Insurance Gaining Traction In California

“Pay-As-You-Drive” (PAYD) describes the concept of linking the amount you pay for auto insurance to the number of miles you drive each year.  There are various ways that insurers will track mileage under a PAYD program.  Most are using telematics, i.e. GPS tracking systems that automatically…
Roadmap to Recovery Program Update: March 2009
Roadmap to Recovery Program Update: March 2009

Wildfire relief work continues in San Diego, Arrowhead/Running Springs/ Fallbrook/Escondido and in Yorba Linda and Santa Barbara UP continues our work hosting meetings, insurance break-out group sessions and providing online resources to 2007 wildfire survivors in San Diego and San Bernardino counties.  Our recent meeting…
Know Thy Risks
Know Thy Risks

Californians can find out about potential hazards near your home or workplace through the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services here: http://myhazards.calema.ca.gov.  Once your hazards are identified, this website will give you action steps to make sure you and your family are better prepared when disaster strikes, no matter…
Amicus Project Update: March 2009
Amicus Project Update: March 2009

Since our last issue, UP went to bat in court for individual and business policyholders in New York, California and Florida and Mississippi. In New York we continued our work promoting full legal protection for policyholders who fall victim to unfair insurance practices, and in California we advocated for…
The beauty of insurance when it works, the ugliness when it doesn’t
The beauty of insurance when it works, the ugliness when it doesn’t

Taking property insurers’ financial temperature amidst the crisis There are varying opinions on how property insurers are faring in the current economic crisis as investment returns have plummeted. The Ernst & Young Global Insurance Center’s US property-casualty industry outlook for 2009 asserts that the property-casualty sector has…
Volunteer Spotlight: March 2009
Volunteer Spotlight: March 2009

Jan Rasmussen and David Shalinsky Prominent members of the Rancho Bernardo Community Presbyterian Church, Jan Rasmussen and David Shalinsky serve as a bridge between the Church’s resources, UP’s Roadmap to Recovery program, and hundreds of fire families in need of support.  Both Jan and David lost their own homes…
How are insurance safety nets holding up six months after a major CA wildfire?
How are insurance safety nets holding up six months after a major CA wildfire?

At the six-month mark after wildfires destroyed 2,170 structures in Southern California last October, it’s a good time to look at how insurance safety nets are holding up for homeowners. Reasonably well for some, but for most, the nets have big holes. There is a…