Latest California Headlines

All the headlines from our California Topic Page, ordered by recency.

Mercury Provides California Policyholders $61 Million Rate Reduction

Jun 12 2008 // George Joseph, founder and chairman of Mercury General Corp. announced the company has filed for and was approved for a 33 percent rate reduction for homeowners and 10 percent rate reduction for renters insurance...

California Receives $6.3 Million in Workers’ Comp Fraud Case

Jun 10 2008 // California Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner announced Cover All, Inc., a 15-year old flooring and carpet installation company headquartered Chatsworth, pled no contest to one count of insurance fraud in Los Angeles...

Survey: Hundreds Underinsured in Last Year’s California Wildfires

Jun 9 2008 // Hundreds of people who lost homes in last year’s wildfires did not have enough insurance to cover their rebuilding costs, according to a survey sponsored by United Policyholders, a San Francisco consumer...

California Commissioner Announces Arrest in Felony Insurance Fraud

Jun 9 2008 // Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner announced Olav A. Flores, 35, of Cedar Glen, surrendered himself to San Bernardino Superior Court after learning an arrest warrant was issued charging him with one count of insurance...

American E&S Appoints Broker in Irvine, California

Jun 6 2008 // American E&S Insurance Brokers named James Lassiter a professional and financial lines broker. He will be working in the Irvine, Calif., branch. Lassiter has spent nearly 15 years in the insurance industry,...

California Launches Workers’ Comp Enforcement Program

Jun 6 2008 // The California Department of Industrial Relations has launched an Insurance Coverage Program, an enforcement program designed to identify and target employers who fail to carry workers’ compensation insurance. DIR...

California Lawmakers Address Disaster Response, Automative Repair, and More

Jun 6 2008 // California lawmakers recently approved several insurance-related bills, addressing such topics as disaster response and automative repair following a crash. Following is a summary of recent legislation, as provided by the...

California Court Rules Smoker’s Claim is ‘Time Barred’

Jun 5 2008 // A U.S. District Curt in California recently ruled that a smoker’s claim against cigarette manufacturers Philip Morris USA, Inc., R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., Lorillard Tobacco Co. and Brown & Williamson Holdings...

California Appeals Court Upholds Cap on Workers’ Comp Treatments

Jun 5 2008 // A Court of Appeal in California has rejected a constitutional challenge to the number of visits a worker is entitled to for chiropractic, physical therapy or occupational therapy visits under the state’s...

Hub International Acquires Nett & Champion Insurance

Jun 4 2008 // Hub International Ltd. announced that Hub International of California Insurance Services Inc. (HUB California) acquired the assets of Nett & Champion Insurance Services, a Santa Barbara, Calif.-based agency...

California Regulator Says Insurance Needs Local Regulation, More Modernization

Jun 3 2008 // Insurance is best regulated at the local level. That’s the opinion of California Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner, who shared his views during his welcome address to the National Association of Insurance...

Poizner Deploys Fraud Investigators to ‘Summit Fire’ Zones

Jun 2 2008 // Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner dispatched California Department of Insurance fraud investigators and staff to the Summit Fire zones near Santa Cruz, Calif. to provide assistance to survivors as they face the daunting...

Large Fire Devours California Movie Sets, King Kong Attraction

Jun 2 2008 // A large fire raged on a back lot at Universal Studios on Sunday, devouring several movie sets and the theme park’s King Kong attraction, officials said. The King Kong exhibit is a stop on the studio’s tram tour...

People

Jun 2 2008 // Markel Corp.’s Board of Directors elected Anthony F. (Tony) Markel vice chairman and Paul W. Springman president and chief operating officer. Markel served Markel Corp. for more than 40 years, most recently as...

Insurance Companies Face Global Warming Claims

Jun 2 2008 // Corporations exposed to liability for greenhouse gas emissions The industry is about to enter an era of global warming insurance claims. Scientists have been warning about the impact global warming could have if greenhouse...

Scientists Predict $200B in Damage From Southern California Earthquake

Jun 2 2008 // The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the California Geological Survey (CGS) are predicting a 7.8 magnitude earthquake in Southern California — similar to the recent earthquake in China — would kill 1,800 people,...

California House Passes Agent-Broker Bill

Jun 2 2008 // The California Assembly on May 22, 2008, passed a bill that would help to clarify when an insurance professional is acting in the capacity of a broker versus an agent. The Assembly voted 60-6 in favor of AB 2956. The...

State Insurance Commissioners Donate to Calif. Children’s Charity

Jun 1 2008 // The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) has selected San Francisco’s Edgewood Center for Children and Families as the official charity for its 2008 Summer National Meeting. This selection is part...

California Report Details How to Reduce Fraudulent Insurance Claims

May 30 2008 // Following a meeting with his Advisory Task Force on Insurance Fraud, Blue Ribbon Review Committee, California Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner announced that he will implement five actions to help reduce fraudulent...

California Workers’ Comp Insurer Files for 3.5 Percent Rate Decrease

May 28 2008 // California State Compensation Insurance Fund announced it filed a July 1, 2008, revision to its rating plan, which it anticipates will result in a 3.5 percent reduction in collectible premium. While base rates will remain...