Latest California Headlines
All the headlines from our California Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Drivers Sue After Uber, Lyft Exit Austin
Jun 13 2016 // Former Uber Technologies Inc. and Lyft Inc. drivers in Austin, Texas, have accused the ride-hailing companies of breaking a federal law by abruptly halting operations in the city after voters backed a measure requiring...
Cher Sues Financial Firm in California for $800k in Losses
Jun 10 2016 // Cher has sued a financial management partnership she claims defrauded her out of more than $800,000 in investments that went belly-up. The suit was filed this weekin Los Angeles County Superior Court on behalf of Veritas...
California State Fund Files for Workers’ Comp Rate Decrease
Jun 9 2016 // The State Compensation Insurance Fund is seeking to cut its workers’ compensation rates, per a recent filing with the California Department of Insurance. The rate filing also includes an overall 9.5 percent rate...
Ratings Downgrades for Members of California-based CSAA: A.M. Best
Jun 8 2016 // A.M. Best has downgraded the financial strength rating to A (Excellent) from A+ (Superior) and the issuer credit ratings to “a+” from “aa-” of the members of Walnut Creek, Calif.-based CSAA...
Detectives Probe Arson Attempt at Kardashian Boutique in Southern California
Jun 8 2016 // Los Angeles County sheriff’s detectives in California are investigating a suspected arson attempt at the West Hollywood DASH clothing boutique owned by the Kardashian sisters. Lt. Edward Ramirez says a witness...
Confie Acquires Auto Dealer POS Provider ExpressLink in California
Jun 8 2016 // Confie has acquired ExpressLink Inc., a Calabasas, Calif.-based provider of auto dealer point of sale insurance and related products and services. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Brian Murphy will continue as...
Greenpath Insurance in California Rebrands as Aspire
Jun 7 2016 // Greenpath Insurance will now be known as Aspire General Insurance Co., the firm announced. The brand change is a reflection of Aspire’s new direction and leadership. The firm has undergone major changes over the last...
Former California Lawmaker Pleas Guilty in Money Laundering Case Involving Workers’ Comp
Jun 7 2016 // A former California Legislator on Monday pleaded guilty to crimes that included accepting bribes, some related to alleged bribes involving workers’ compensation fraud. Former Democratic Assemblyman Tom Calderon...
Woodruff-Sawyer in California Adds Huskins and Kakel to Board
Jun 7 2016 // San Francisco, Calif.-based Woodruff-Sawyer & Co. is expanding its board of directors from eight to 10 members with the additions of Priya Cherian Huskins and Christopher Kakel. Huskins and Kakel are now...
Insurance Startup in California Eyeing Gig Economy Opens $2M Seed Round
Jun 7 2016 // Bunker Project Inc., a San Francisco, Calif.-based insurance technology startup, announced a $2 million seed funding round. The round was co-led by Comcast Ventures and Route 66 Ventures. Insurance carriers Hiscox and...
Top 100 Metro Areas for Vehicle Theft: NICB’s ‘Hot Spots’
Jun 6 2016 // When it comes to vehicle theft, California’s on top. California owns eight of the top 10 hot spots for vehicle theft in 2015, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau’s (NICB) latest Hot Spots...
Authorities Cancel Evacuations for Southern California Brush Fire
Jun 6 2016 // Thousands of people driven from their homes in the hills northwest of Los Angeles were allowed to return Sunday night after crews working in steep canyons took advantage of cooler temperatures and calmer winds to beat back...
How Gig Economy Is Using Private Arbitration to Win on Labor Classification
Jun 6 2016 // Sharing economy workers’ best shot at suing to rewrite the rules of their employment may soon pass them by. As judges last Thursday considered settlements that will leave Uber Technologies Inc. and Lyft Inc. drivers...
California Could Have Early Alert Quake System by 2018
Jun 6 2016 // California Gov. Jerry Brown will seek state funds to help establish a system that issues alerts that an earthquake is occurring — with an eye on rolling out a limited system by 2018. Brown will ask the Legislature to...
EPIC Names Leventhal Vice President in Employee Benefits in California
Jun 3 2016 // EPIC Insurance Brokers & Consultants has named Eric Leventhal a vice president in its employee benefits consulting practice. Leventhal will be based in San Francisco and report to John Connell, president of employee...
Judge Questions Lyft’s Revised Pay Deal with California Drivers
Jun 3 2016 // Lyft Inc. may have more work to do to win court approval of a settlement with 163,000 California drivers who sued to be treated as employees. U.S. District Judge Vince Chhabria in San Francisco on Thursday indicated...
Critics of Uber’s $100M Driver Settlement Have Day in Court
Jun 3 2016 // Uber Technologies Inc. may have to return to the bargaining table to show just how badly it wants to avoid a jury trial with drivers demanding to be treated as employees. The world’s largest rideshare company faced...
Risk Strategies Acquires OakBridge Advisors in California
Jun 2 2016 // Risk Strategies Co. has acquired employee benefits firm OakBridge Advisors in Newport Beach, Calif. Founders Edward Kirkwood and Lawrence Hartley their staff will continue serving their current client base. They will work...
Honda Self-Driving Cars on Display at New Testing Facility in California
Jun 2 2016 // Honda Motor Co gave a sneak preview of its self-driving prototypes on Wednesday, saying it was already on its way to offering semi-autonomous safety functions to the mass market. The Japanese automaker has been less vocal...
AIG to Appeal Ruling Letting PIMCO Suit Over Financial Crisis Investments Proceed
Jun 2 2016 // American International Group Inc. failed to persuade a judge to throw out a lawsuit by Pacific Investment Management Co. over investments that were wiped out because of the insurer’s exposure to credit-default swaps...
