January 15, 2015 Demonstrating and Preserving the Deterrent Effect of Punitive Damages in Insurance Bad Faith Cases by Harvey R. Levine (Universitty of San Diego School of Law) Older article from the University of San Francisco Law Review discussing punitive damages and deterrence in insurance bad faith cases (13 U.S.F.L 613 1978-1979). 13USFLRev613.pdf
January 13, 2015 Boles Fire – Roadmap to Recovery Workshop UP will be hosting a free educational workshop for Boles Fire Survivors on Tuesday, January 13th at the College of the Siskiyous. This workshop will cover how to navigate the insurance and rebuilding process, including communicating with your insurer, your legal rights in California and…
January 12, 2015 “Sharing Economy” UPdate As they work to establish oversight of new transportation network companies, and set fair rules for licensure, insurance and competition with the taxi industry, regulators are classifying Uber, Lyft and other ride-sharing businesses as the “Sharing Economy.” United Policyholders has been engaged in these oversight…
January 11, 2015 Dallas-area insurers see spike in calls about quake policies Earthquake insurance isn’t exactly a familiar product to Texas homeowners, unlike their counterparts in quake-prone California. But after a series of earthquakes were recorded in a swarm last week near State Highways 114 and 183 in Irving, insurance companies have started receiving calls from consumers…
January 2, 2015 Small words big difference Most people buy life insurance as soon as they have kids. Far fewer shell out for a disability policy, even people whose income keeps a roof over their family’s head and food in their bellies. To most people (and employers that provide benefits), a disability…
December 27, 2014 Insurers accused of rigging Sandy flood claims with slanted reports, but evidence is elusive By DAVID B. CARUSO and MICHAEL KUNZELMAN, Associated PressNEW YORK (AP) — When Superstorm Sandy hit the East Coast, flood insurance companies working for the Federal Emergency Management Agency dispatched an army of structural engineers to do some detective work.Their assignment: Find out how much…
December 25, 2014 UP’s Resiliency Check List 2015 Stock UP (your emergency kit): Add a portable charger for your cell phone. Call UP your insurer; confirm you’re properly covered: Find out how on our website. Like UP: Spread the word. www.facebook.com/UPhelp Tally UP: Download the free UPHelp Home Inventory at the App store and…
December 24, 2014 Some cry foul at Charleston Water System’s decision to loan its logo to private company Charleston Water System, a public utility, has sold a private company the rights to use its logo in advertisements for warranty plans. CWS inked the marketing agreement late last year with HomeServe USA, a company that sells service plans for residential exterior water service lines…
December 22, 2014 Smart Insurance Math With the exception of a health insurance policy, where a high deductible can give you pain in the pocketbook all year long, raising the deductible in your home, car, business, or renter’s policy is smart insurance math. A higher deductible lowers the cost of your…
December 19, 2014 The Insurance Market Mystifies an Airbnb Host So let’s say you decided to place your home or a few rooms inside it among the million-plus listings that the rental site Airbnb now claims to have. And let’s also say that you’re the rule-abiding sort and find the part of the company’s website…
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 17, 2014 50 State Summary of Cancellation Rules 50-state summary of mid-term cancellation rules for auto, commercial, business, and other personal lines insurance policies. (2014, Wells Media Group via Insurance Journal) Midterm-Cancellation-States-List.pdf
December 16, 2014 NAIC Names 2015 Consumer Representatives The National Association of Insurance Commissioners NAIC) recently named 30 consumer liaison representatives for 2015. The 20 funded and 10 unfunded consumer representatives begin their terms Jan. 1, 2015. Eighteen of the funded consumer representatives participated in the program in 2014. Established in 1992, the…
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…