California Department of Insurance News

California Expands Order for Insurers to Partially Refund Premiums

California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara today issued a bulletin extending his previous order requiring insurance companies to return partial insurance premiums to consumers and businesses amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The California Department of Insurance will review all premium adjustments …

California Issues Cease And Desist over Illegal Extended Warranties

The California Department of Insurance issued a cease and desist order on Omega Vehicle Services LLC, doing business as Delta Auto Protect, and its controlling manager, Charles Seruya, for allegedly selling illegal vehicle service contracts to over twenty California consumers. …

Six Things to Know About the Recent Impasse Between Regulators and Insurers in the Aftermath of California’s Devastating Wildfires

This post is part of a series sponsored by CoreLogic. California’s 2017 and 2018 catastrophic wildfire events hit state insurers historically hard, with record-breaking losses of over $25 billion.1 2 Three years later, state regulators, utility companies, and insurers are …

California Commissioner Orders Insurance Claim, Coverage Deadline Extensions

California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara has issued a notice to insurers ordering them to stop enforcing policy or statutory deadlines on policyholders for claims or coverage until 90 days after the statewide “state of emergency” or other “state of emergency” …

California Department of Insurance Has Man Extradited from Poland in $2.6M Fraud Ring

California Department of Insurance detectives took Yeghishe Msryan, 67, into custody after he was arrested in Poland and extradited back to Los Angeles by the U.S. Marshals Service for his alleged involvement in an organized fraud ring in which he …

Family-run Auto Insurance Fraud Ring Snared in ‘Operation Car Seats’ in California

California Department of Insurance detectives arrested seven suspects on 31 felony charges of auto insurance fraud for their alleged involvement in a family-run organized auto fraud ring dubbed Operation Car Seats. Suspects allegedly filed dozens of fraudulent false insurance claims …

Northern California Sting Brings Insurance Fraud Charges in Auto Body Repair Bust

An operation by a crime task force in Northern California targeting auto body repair facilities resulted in eight felony counts of insurance fraud against four individuals The California Department of Insurance, Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office and the National …

California IHOP Cook Arrested for Workers’ Compensation Fraud

California Department of Insurance detectives arrested Jonathan Quezada, 28, on multiple felony counts of insurance fraud and workers’ compensation insurance fraud after he allegedly falsified an insurance claim to receive unearned workers’ compensation benefits costing Californians over $22,000. Quezada was …

Insurers Say Proposed California Regs Could Axe Discounts for Millions

The American Property Casualty Insurance Association testified today in opposition to draft regulations they say could eliminate many affinity group insurance discount programs during a pre-notice workshop held by the California Department of Insurance in Los Angeles. The workshop was …

Southern California Insurance Agent Arrested for Allegedly Pocketing Premiums

California Department of Insurance detectives on Thursday arrested insurance agent Gelinda Phann Keo, 43, on one felony count of grand theft after she allegedly pocketed a client’s insurance payment. The CDI found Keo, doing business as Global Cargo Insurance Agency, …