Auto Insurers Ordered to “Close the Gap” on Refunds Owed to California Drivers for Excess Premiums Charged during COVID-19 Pandemic

By Jackson Sullivan In an October 6, 2021 press release, Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara announced that the Department of Insurance (DOI) had ordered three auto insurance companies, covering approximately 20% of California drivers, to reimburse excess premiums charged during the Continue reading

Climate Insurance Working Group Releases Draft Report with Recommendations to Save Costs related to Climate-Fueled Heat Waves, Wildfires, and Flooding

By Julia Zeigler The Climate Insurance Working Group was enacted by legislation (SB 30 (Lara) (Chapter 614, Statutes of 2018)).  The new Working Group is to examine issues related to climate change, resilience, and insurance. The mission of this working Continue reading

After Declaration of Emergency—Mandatory Moratorium on Cancellations and Non-Renewals of Residential Property Insurance

By Julia Zeigler On September 20, 2021, Department of Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara issued a “bulletin” to announce the mandatory moratorium on cancellations and non-renewals of policies of residential property insurance. His announcement follows another year of record-breaking wildfires in Continue reading

Passage of SB 11 Expands California FAIR Plan Coverage

By Allison Plette SB 11 (Rubio), as amended June 28, 2021, expands sections 10091 and 10094 of the California Insurance Code covering the California FAIR Plan. The amendments remove exclusions for “farm risks” from the definition of “basic property insurance.” Continue reading

California Department of Insurance-Sponsored Legislation Cracking Down on Inhumane Conditions in Private Prisons Signed by Governor Newsom

By Jackson Sullivan SB 334 (Durazo), known as the Private Detention Accountability Act, as amended September 2, 2021, adds section 679.75 to the Insurance Code and section 9506 to the Penal Code to require private detention facilities to maintain general Continue reading

Court Issues Order on Consumer Watchdog’s Motion to Compel Commissioner Ricardo Lara to Respond to Discovery Requests

By: Allison Plette Consumer Watchdog v. Ricardo Lara, Case No. 20STCP00664 (Super. Ct. Los Angeles County). On May 12, 2021, the court issued an order granting in part and denying in part Petitioner Consumer Watchdog’s motion to compel specific documents Continue reading

DOI Holds Second Workshop Regarding Proposed Regulations to Expand Auto Insurance Group Discounts to Low-Income Drivers

By Hannah Ohman On March 23, 2021, the California Department of Insurance (DOI) held a second prenotice public workshop regarding contemplated amendments to expand auto insurance group discounts to lower-income drivers. DOI is responsible for the review and approval of Continue reading

California Department of Insurance Cracks Down on Inhumane Conditions in Private Prisons

By: Jennifer Wilczynski On February 8, 2021, Senator Maria Elena Durazo (D-Los Angeles) introduced SB 334 (Durazo), the Private Detention Accountability Act. Sponsored by Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara and the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights, SB 334 would require all 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