California Department of Insurance News

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, …

California Proposes Major Change on Auto Insurance Group Discounts

The California Department of Insurance on Monday released proposed regulations to reform how insurance companies offer group discounts based on occupation, education, and other arbitrary factors. If adopted, this would be the first major change to the use of so-called …

California Department of Insurance Arrests Suspects in $500K Auto Fraud Ring

Investigators from the California Department of Insurance, San Diego County District Attorney’s Office, and the California Highway Patrol have arrested four suspects for alleged involvement in an organized auto fraud ring reportedly costing insurers $500,000. The arrests of the suspects …

California Commissioner Orders FAIR Plan to Increase Homeowners Coverage Options

California’s property insurer of last resort will soon be offering more homeowners coverage options as directed by the state’s insurance commissioner in response to the pressure put on the property insurance market by wildfire risks. California Commissioner Ricardo Lara has …

California Agent Arrested for Allegedly Leaving Client Uninsured in 2018 Mudslides

California Department of Insurance detectives this week arrested insurance agent Mark Lynch, 40, on 13 felony counts of grand theft, embezzlement, and money laundering after allegedly collecting over $72,425 in insurance premium payments from five clients while leaving one client …

New Mexico Explains Role in Enabling Applied Underwriters Sale

The growing drama behind the $920 million sale of Berkshire Hathaway-owned Applied Underwriters to its founder Steven Menzies got another voice added to the story. The New Mexico Office of Superintendent of Insurance on Thursday said New Mexico facilitated the …

Applied Underwriters Responds to California Department of Insurance Effort to Halt Sale

Applied Underwriters executives have responded to efforts by the California Department of Insurance to halt the sale of one of its subsidiaries and threaten to upend a reported $920 million deal that’s been in the works for some time. The …