With More Homeowners Getting Dropped, Here’s What to Do if Your Property Insurance is Canceled
With More Homeowners Getting Dropped, Here’s What to Do if Your Property Insurance is Canceled

As wildfire risk and losses continue, California sees rise in insurers dropping policyholders. Catchy jingles and funny ads make insurance seem so simple. But it’s not always simple. Many Bay Area homeowners are learning firsthand that home insurance companies can suddenly drop you. Insurance companies…
Smoke Damage a Source of Friction for ‘Standing Home Survivors’
Smoke Damage a Source of Friction for ‘Standing Home Survivors’

The lingering impact of smoke and soot is complicating insurers’ efforts to resolve homeowners claims from the Marshall Fire, which destroyed 1,084 homes in Boulder County, Colorado last December. An in-depth report posted online this week by the nonprofit Boulder Reporting Lab told the story…
No return home for some Marshall Fire survivors
No return home for some Marshall Fire survivors

It has been nearly one year since the Marshall Fire destroyed more than 1,000 homes in Boulder County, but there is another group of affected homeowners. Their houses are still standing, yet they do not feel safe returning home. Some never will. On a quiet…
Most are rejected, but Sonoma County COVID business damage case continues
Most are rejected, but Sonoma County COVID business damage case continues

Petaluma-based Amy’s Kitchen is being allowed by a judge to continue to pursue Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company to payout for damages and losses as the result of SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19, something few other companies nationally have been able to achieve. In its lawsuit, like thousands…
Volunteering pays dividends…
Volunteering pays dividends…

We hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving, wherever and however you celebrated. This month’s tip is a message of gratitude for the many volunteers that help our nonprofit make a BIG, positive impact on people’s lives all across the nation, all year long. Our professional…
Colorado wildfires are making it harder to insure homes. Could a publicly funded plan stave off an insurance crisis?
Colorado wildfires are making it harder to insure homes. Could a publicly funded plan stave off an insurance crisis?

State commissioner suggests a plan of last resort could help homeowners who can’t find policies on open market The increasing risk of wildfires in Colorado is driving insurance carriers to raise premiums on homeowners’ policies — if they decide to insure them at all —…
‘Quirky’ TCPA Coverage Ruling Is Policy Interpretation Clinic
‘Quirky’ TCPA Coverage Ruling Is Policy Interpretation Clinic

The California Supreme Court took a big step forward for policyholders when it recently found that ambiguity in a policy issued by an AIG unit could lead Yahoo to have a reasonable expectation of coverage, thus potentially triggering the insurer’s duty to defend against four…
Winter 2022 Newsletter
Winter 2022 Newsletter

2022 Highlights: 50+ Roadmap to Recovery® events in California, Colorado, Florida, and Oregon, including in-person and online seminars, pro bono financial and legal help clinics, Q&A forums, and Survivor-to Survivor support forums 50+ Preparedness/Resiliency presentations 36+ Pro-consumer Friend of the Court (amicus curiae) briefs filed…
These 8 nonprofits are making a difference: North Bay Gives Awards for 2022
These 8 nonprofits are making a difference: North Bay Gives Awards for 2022

North Bay Business Journal recognizes the following organizations for their impact on their communities in Marin, Napa, Sonoma and Solano counties. Winners of the 2022 North Bay Gives Awards will be recognized at an event in Santa Rosa on Wednesday afternoon. Community Matters What is…
Property Insurance Policy Coverage Trends Point to Less Coverage at Greater Cost
Property Insurance Policy Coverage Trends Point to Less Coverage at Greater Cost

Amy Bach of United Policyholders has a feel for the pulse of property insurance coverage trends that impact policyholders throughout the United States. She has a seat at the table with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) when discussing topics impacting insurance consumers. I was fascinated with…
5 Effective Household Apps to Manage Your Home Without the Weariness
5 Effective Household Apps to Manage Your Home Without the Weariness

There are several challenges in running a home, whether it’s a house, an apartment, or a townhouse. You need to create an inventory of all your items and belongings, track all the paperwork with the house, and maintain or fix the interiors, exteriors, and essentials.…
Scary insurance premiums…what to do?
Scary insurance premiums…what to do?

Home and business insurance premiums in hurricane and wildfire prone regions have jumped to scary levels…Those who can’t afford the increases are increasingly “going bare” if they own their homes outright. Those with mortgages are going deeper into debt to pay for mandated insurance. Bundling…
15 years later: Lessons learned from Witch Creek fire survivors
15 years later: Lessons learned from Witch Creek fire survivors

From evacuation to rebuilding and insurance, Rancho Bernardo residents share their experiences If you have just minutes to evacuate your home as flames approach, are you ready? You might think you are prepared to flee and to financially replace your home in a total loss,…
Where Are Florida’s Leaders Explaining How Floridians Can Fully Get Paid and Not Get Ripped Off By Their Own Insurance Companies?
Where Are Florida’s Leaders Explaining How Floridians Can Fully Get Paid and Not Get Ripped Off By Their Own Insurance Companies?

Nowhere to be found. That is the answer. It is quite proper to warn people about unscrupulous scoundrels without licenses who are gauging Florida’s Hurricane Ian victims. Trying to ferret out those individuals and asking the public for information and to turn them in is…
Napa homeowner awarded $4.35 million after losing home in 2017 fire
Napa homeowner awarded $4.35 million after losing home in 2017 fire

A Napa County jury Monday returned a $4.35 million verdict against a State Farm Insurance Company agent, agreeing that the agent was negligent when she failed to increase the coverage for a Silverado homeowner before the October 2017 wildfires. The homeowners, Jack and Gayle Daniels…
Treasury to insurers: Divulge your climate risks
Treasury to insurers: Divulge your climate risks

The Biden administration launched an unprecedented effort Tuesday to analyze how climate change is affecting property insurance costs and availability. The move comes as homeowners face soaring premiums in several states and dwindling insurance options. The Treasury Department’s Federal Insurance Office said it plans to…
California looks to lower insurance costs with new wildfire regulations
California looks to lower insurance costs with new wildfire regulations

California has introduced new wildfire safety regulation to help drive down cost of insurance by recognizing and rewarding wildfire safety and mitigation efforts made by homeowners and businesses. Insurance Commission Ricardo Lara’s regulation will require insurance companies to submit new rates that recognize the benefit…
State enforces nation’s first wildfire safety regulation to help drive down cost of insurance
State enforces nation’s first wildfire safety regulation to help drive down cost of insurance

Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara said he will enforce the new insurance pricing regulation he wrote recognizing and rewarding wildfire safety and mitigation efforts made by homeowners and businesses. Commissioner Lara’s regulation is the first in the nation requiring insurance companies to provide discounts to consumers…