Articles by Don Thompson

California Settles with Firm in Volkswagen Emissions Scandal

California settled a lawsuit against a German company stemming from the emissions scandal that tarred Volkswagen in 2015 and Fiat Chrysler two years later. German auto supplier Bosch will pay $25 million to settle allegations by the state and California …

California Tells Auto Insurers to Disclose Pandemic Profits

California’s insurance commissioner ordered nearly 50 auto insurers to provide detailed information about their claim costs during the pandemic, his latest attempt to compensate consumers he says were overcharged as traffic virtually disappeared when the nation’s largest insurance market imposed …

California Governor Approves Farmworker Unionization Law

A broadly smiling California Gov. Gavin Newsom joined about two dozen jubilant, cheering farmworkers camped outside the state Capitol this week to sign one of the most contentious bills before him this year, reversing course on a measure to help …

Insurers Warn California’s Inaction Threatens Auto Policies

Top U.S. insurance companies and associations say California is risking a crisis in the nation’s largest automobile insurance market by refusing to approve any rate increases for more than two years, since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. The companies …

California Lawmakers Pass Landmark Fast Food Workers Bill

California lawmakers approved a nation-leading measure that would give more than a half-million fast food workers more power and protections, over the objections of restaurant owners who warn it would drive up consumers’ costs. The bill will create a new …

California Lawmakers Pass Landmark Fast Food Workers Bill

California lawmakers this week approved a nation-leading measure that would give more than a half-million fast food workers more power and protections, over the objections of restaurant owners who warn it would drive up consumers’ costs. The bill will create …

Cosmetics Maker Sephora Settles Customer Data Privacy Suit in California

Sephora Inc., one of the world’s largest cosmetics retailers, has settled a lawsuit claiming that the company sold customer information without proper notice in violation of the California’s landmark consumer privacy law, state Attorney General Rob Bonta said. Sephora failed …

California Lawmakers Allow Lawsuits Against ‘Cyber Flashers’

Victims who receive unsolicited sexually graphic material by text, email, app or other electronic means could sue the sender under a bill that California lawmakers sent to Gov. Gavin Newsom this week. The bill targets what’s known as “cyber flashing,” …

Western Fires Outpace California’s Effort to Fill Inmate Crews

As wildfires rage across California each year, exhausted firefighters call for reinforcements from wherever they can get them – even as far as Australia. Yet one homegrown resource is rarely used: thousands of experienced firefighters who earned their chops in …

Rent-A-Center Settles California Lawsuit Alleging Overpricing

Rent-A-Center, one of the nation’s largest rent-to-own companies, will pay $15.5 million to settle California’s allegations that it misled and overcharged tens of thousands of customers, Attorney General Rob Bonta said Tuesday. An investigation of the company’s “kiosk” business inside …