Safeco Insurance Company Faces Class-Action Lawsuit over Automobile Insurance Rates During COVID-19 Pandemic

By Jackson Sullivan On November 23, 2021, in Jimmy Monge v. Safeco Insurance Company of America et al., Case No. 2:21-cv-09175-MWF-AFM (C.D. Cal.)., plaintiffs filed a class action complaint in the Central District of California on behalf of the putative Continue reading

Despite Shortfalls, PG&E Exits Criminal Probation and is Awarded Safety Certificate after Meeting Statutory Requirements

By Justin Dalton On January 19, 2022, U.S. District Judge William Alsup of the Northern District of California issued his final comments upon the expiration of Pacific Gas and Electric’s (PG&E) five-year criminal probation term in the matter of United Continue reading

Ninth Circuit Holds that Even Comprehensive Commercial Property Insurance Policies Do Not Cover Business Income Losses from the Pandemic

By Jackson Sullivan On October 1, 2021, the Ninth Circuit decided Mudpie, Inc. v. Travelers Casualty Insurance Company of America, Case No. 20-16858 (9th Cir.).  The opinion affirmed the district court’s order dismissing Petitioner Mudpie, Inc.’s claims against its insurer, Continue reading

Litigation Challenging CSLB’s July 27, 2021 Decision to Restrict C-46 Licenses

By Thomas A. T. Ferrari On September 17, 2021, in California Solar Energy Industries Association vs. Contractors State License Board, et al., Case No. CGC-21-594911 (Super. Ct., County of San Francisco), petitioner California Solar Energy Industries Association, filed a Verified Continue reading

California COVID-19 Emergency Testing Regulations Imposed By DMHC without Notice Ruled Improper

By William Espinosa California Association of Health Plans v. Mary Watanabe, et al., Case No. 20STCP03773 (Super. Ct., Los Angeles County). On May 5, 2021, after full consideration of the arguments and evidence presented at trial by Petitioner California Association Continue reading

California Superior Court Sustains State Bar’s Demurrer to LegalMatch’s Constitutional Challenge to Business and Professions Code § 6155; Second Amended Cross Complaint Pending

By Kirstin Jensvold-Rumage On February 3, 2021, San Francisco Superior Court Judge Ethan Schulman sustained the State Bar of California’s demurrer to LegalMatch’s First Amended Cross Complaint (FACC) for Declaratory Relief, with leave to amend, in State Bar of California Continue reading

California Department of Insurance Leaving Virus Exclusion Questions up to the Courts

By: Jennifer Wilczynski At the start of 2021, there were over 1,500 property insurance claims across the country due to COVID-19 business interruptions. These cases largely address interruptions caused by local and state ordinances, which forced the closure of many Continue reading

Former Executive Director Files Lawsuit Against the California Public Utilities Commission

By: Madison Orcutt On December 4, 2020, the former executive director of the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), Alice Stebbins, filed a complaint against the Commission in the San Francisco Superior Court (Alice Stebbins v. California Public Utilities Commission, et Continue reading