Latest California Headlines
All the headlines from our California Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Garamendi’s Homeowners’ Bill of Rights Moves Ahead
Jun 7 2004 // California Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi’s “Homeowners’ Bill of Rights” package is continuing to move through the California State Legislature. The four main measures have all moved out of...
People and Places
Jun 7 2004 // Bill Brennan Mark Nash Travis Trask Bill Brennan, Mark Nash and Travis Trask have become principals of San Diego-based Barney & Barney. Brennan began his career with Barney & Barney in 1996. Since then, he has...
Western Growers Urges Further Workers’ Comp Reductions
Jun 4 2004 // Following up on their successful plea for workers’ compensation rate reductions, Western Growers’ leadership again called on remaining insurance companies to decrease their rates. In April, the fresh produce...
Calif. Commissioner Warns of Unlicensed Insurer
Jun 4 2004 // California Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi has issued a cease and desist order to the National Employers Network, LLC, for operating without a license, putting its policyholders in serious financial peril. The firm,...
Calif. Supreme Court Rejects “Hybrid” Service Contract Theory
Jun 2 2004 // In a move that clarifies and upholds current state law, the California Supreme Court recently ruled that a vehicle service contract is not an express warranty and should be treated separately. In a May 27 decision, the...
AIA Issues Statement Regarding California Workers’ Comp Pure Premium Rates
Jun 1 2004 // The American Insurance Association (AIA) issued a statement in response to California Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi’s announcement of his pure premium advisory rate recommendation of 20.9 percent; the...
$110 Million from Settlement in Credit Lyonnais Case Transferred to Calif. Commissioner’s Office
Jun 1 2004 // $110 million paid by Artemis S.A. in a settlement with the United States Attorney’s Office in connection with the Credit Lyonnais criminal case has been transferred to the California Insurance Commissioner, United...
California Commissioner Recommends 20.9 Percent Decrease in Workers’ Comp Rates
May 28 2004 // California Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi has recommended that California workers’ compensation insurers lower their rates by 20.9 percent for policies issued or renewed on or after July 1, 2004....
Heritage General Agency Hires Mesa and Opens Northern California Office
May 27 2004 // Emily Lomax, senior vice president, division director of Heritage General Agency has selected Yvonne Mesa, y_mesa@heritagegeneral.com, to open HGA’s northern California office. Mesa comes aboard as assistant vice...
Zenith Files 10% Reduction in Calif. Workers’ Comp Rates
May 27 2004 // Zenith National Insurance Corp. reported that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Zenith Insurance Company, has filed with the California Department of Insurance its workers’ compensation rates for use on or after July 1,...
New Surplus Lines Brokerage Formed in California
May 24 2004 // Lionheart Insurance Services, a new surplus lines brokerage based in Calabasas, Calif., was recently formed. Lionheart will specialize in writing business for artisan contractors, apartments and restaurants, products...
ISU Welcomes Two New Calif. Offices
May 24 2004 // Two new agencies were admitted into the ISU National Network of Independent Agents effective the month of May, announced T.J. Ryan III, ISU International president. ISU Insurance Services – Atwood Agency of...
California Senate OKs Bills Expanding Firebreaks and Insurance Rights
May 20 2004 // Bills to expand firebreaks around some rural homes and give homeowners greater insurance rights were approved recently by the state Senate. The four measures were introduced in response to the fires that ravaged large...
Former Aliso Viejo Resident Arrested for Grand Theft
May 18 2004 // As a result of an investigation conducted by the California Department of Insurance (CDI), former Aliso Viejo insurance broker James Michael Gordon, 33, of North Miami Beach, Florida, surrendered himself on May 4 to Orange...
Keenan Names Former Mayor to Advisory Board
May 17 2004 // Keenan, one of the largest privately held brokerage firms in California, announced the appointment of Art Agnos to its Advisory Board. Agnos is the former Mayor of San Francisco, 1988-1992. He also served as California...
California’s Workers’ Compensation Problem – The Hidden Cause
May 17 2004 // Most, if not all, of work done over the past year on workers’ compensation reform has been directed at symptoms and not causes. The true cause of the workers’ compensation problem is poor employer management...
OCTOBER WILDFIRE SURVIVORS FILE CLASS ACTION SUIT AGAINST INSURANCE COMPANIES:
May 17 2004 // A class-action lawsuit was filed on May 5 against four major insurance companies who write homeowner’s insurance in California. The lawsuit filed against State Farm, Allstate, Farmers and Safeco alleges that the...
New IRC Study Reveals Regional Auto Claim Cost Differences in California
May 12 2004 // According to a new Insurance Research Council (IRC) report, Californians in major cities are more likely than non-metropolitan residents to 1) be involved in auto accidents, 2) have auto insurance losses per insured...
ACIC Recommends Homeowners Review Insurance Coverage as Wildfire Season Begins
May 7 2004 // With wild fires raging once again, the Association of California Insurance Companies encouraged homeowners to inventory their possessions and review and update their insurance policies. “It appears that California...
October Wildfire Survivors File Class Action Suit Against Insurance Companies
May 5 2004 // A class-action lawsuit was filed on May 5 against four major insurance companies who write homeowner’s insurance in California. The lawsuit filed against State Farm, Allstate, Farmers and Safeco, alleges that the...
