Consumer Watchdog

TO CONDUCT PUBLIC EDUCATION, RESEARCH AND LITIGATION ON ISSUES INCLUDING CONSUMER PROTECTION AND GOVERNMENT REFORM.

LITIGATION -- CONSUMER WATCHDOG (CWD) WORKS TO PROTECT CONSUMERS IN THE COURTS AND BEFORE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCIES. CWD LITIGATED TO PROTECT CONSUMER ACCESS TO THE HEALTH CARE AND INSURANCE BENEFITS THEY ARE PROMISED, PREVENT INSURANCE COMPANIES FROM VIOLATING CONSUMER PROTECTION LAWS, ENSURE TRANSPARENCY IN GOVERNMENT, AND RETURN ILLEGAL OVERCHARGES. IN 2021, CONSUMER WATCHDOG ACHIEVED A VICTORY IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES WHEN CVS DROPPED ITS APPEAL OF CONSUMER WATCHDOG'S NINTH CIRCUIT VICTORY REPRESENTING PLAINTIFFS LIVING WITH HIV; THE SUIT AGAINST CVS IS FOR UNLAWFULLY DISCLOSING HIV STATUS AND/OR PUTTING INDIVIDUALS AT RISK OF SUCH A DISCLOSURE, AS WELL AS PROVIDING THEM A LOWER TIER OF SERVICE. CWD SUCCESSFULLY DEFENDED CALIFORNIA'S TRANSPARENCY AND PUBLIC PARTICIPATION RULES FOR INSURANCE RATE REGULATION UNDER PROPOSITION 103. CWD CONTINUED TWO ACTIONS AGAINST HEALTH INSURERS FOR FAILING TO PAY THEIR TAXES AND CONTINUED LITIGATION TO PROTECT CONSUMERS' PRIVACY AGAINST A CALIFORNIA PUBLIC HEALTH AGENCY WHOSE CONTRACTOR'S ACTION RESULTED IN THE EXPOSURE OF HIV POSITIVE PATIENTS' PROTECTED MEDICAL INFORMATION. CWD INITIATED OR INTERVENED IN SEVERAL PROCEEDINGS AT THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE TO CHALLENGE EXCESSIVE INSURANCE RATE INCREASES SAVING CONSUMERS TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, CHALLENGED THE DISCRIMINATORY USE OF DRIVERS' JOB AND EDUCATION LEVEL TO SET AUTO INSURANCE RATES, AND CHALLENGED HOME INSURANCE COMPANIES' FAILURE TO GIVE HOMEOWNERS RATE RELIEF FOR TAKING STEPS TO PROTECT THEIR HOMES FROM WILDFIRE. CWD LITIGATED A SUIT AGAINST AN AUTO INSURANCE COMPANY FOR DISCRIMINATING AGAINST CERTAIN MEMBERS OF THE MILITARY BY CHARGING ENLISTED SERVICE MEMBERS MORE THAN OFFICERS, IN VIOLATION OF PROPOSITION 103. CWD SETTLED A SUIT AGAINST A MAJOR VIDEOCONFERENCING APP FOR MISREPRESENTING ITS SECURITY PROTECTIONS TO CONSUMERS. CWD LITIGATED A SUIT UNDER THE PUBLIC RECORDS ACT AGAINST A STATE AGENCY AND ITS HEAD FOR WITHHOLDING DOCUMENTS RELEVANT TO A CORRUPTION SCANDAL. IN 2021, CWD ISSUED 7 NEWS RELEASES AND GENERATED 21 NEWS STORIES ON THESE TOPICS THAT APPEARED ON STATE AND NATIONAL TELEVISION AND RADIO PROGRAMS, AND IN PRINT AND ONLINE NEWS OUTLETS.

HEALTHCARE & INSURANCE REFORM -- CONSUMER WATCHDOG (CWD) FIGHTS TO PROTECT PATIENTS FROM INSURANCE ABUSES, TO IMPROVE PATIENT SAFETY AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM, AND FOR UNIVERSALLY ACCESSIBLE AND AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE. IN 2021, CWD ORGANIZED PATIENTS WHO HAVE BEEN HARMED BY MEDICAL NEGLIGENCE TO SHARE THEIR STORIES AND ADVOCATE TO CHANGE A LAW THAT PREVENTS INJURED CALIFORNIANS FROM GETTING JUSTICE. CWD EXPANDED A WEBSITE AND INTERACTIVE MAP FEATURING PHOTOS, PROFILES AND VIDEO INTERVIEWS TO HIGHLIGHT THESE FAMILIES' STORIES ACROSS THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA. CWD ADVOCATED BEFORE THE LEGISLATURE AND MEDICAL BOARD OF CALIFORNIA FOR STRONGER PATIENT SAFETY PROTECTIONS AND SWIFTER DISCIPLINE FOR PHYSICIANS WHO HAVE HARMED THEIR PATIENTS. CWD WORKS TO ENFORCE AND PROTECT CALIFORNIA'S INSURANCE REFORM PROPOSITION 103, WHICH REGULATES MOST PROPERTY/CASUALTY INSURANCE INCLUDING AUTO, HOMEOWNERS AND SMALL BUSINESS INSURANCE. CWD EDUCATED THE PUBLIC, NEWS MEDIA AND POLICYMAKERS ABOUT PROP 103'S POWER TO PROTECT HOMEOWNERS FROM INSURANCE INDUSTRY WILDFIRE ABUSES. CWD ADVOCATED FOR NEW REGULATIONS AT THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE TO REQUIRE THAT INSURERS CONSIDER HOMEOWNER ACTIONS TO PROTECT AGAINST WILDFIRE RISK IN PRICING AND UNDERWRITING DECISIONS. CWD RELEASED AN ANALYSIS SHOWING AUTO INSURANCE COMPANIES FAILED TO RETURN TO CONSUMERS SEVERAL BILLION DOLLARS IN PREMIUM OVERCHARGES WHEN DRIVERS WERE NOT ON THE ROAD DURING COVID-19. IN 2021, CWD ISSUED 27 NEWS RELEASES AND GENERATED 98 NEWS STORIES ON THESE TOPICS THAT APPEARED ON STATE AND NATIONAL TELEVISION AND RADIO PROGRAMS, AND IN PRINT AND ONLINE NEWS OUTLETS.

ENERGY REFORM -- CONSUMER WATCHDOG (CWD) INVESTIGATES THE REGULATION OF COMPANIES GENERATING FOSSIL FUELS AND POLLUTION, ADVOCATES TO IMPROVE OVERSIGHT OF THE OIL, GAS AND UTILITY INDUSTRIES, AND FIGHTS FOR RELIABLE, AFFORDABLE AND CLEAN ENERGY. IN 2021, CWD EDUCATED THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE NEED TO LIMIT FOSSIL FUEL SUPPLIES IN THE FIGHT AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE, INCLUDING CURBING OIL DRILLING AND FOSSIL FUEL-POWERED ELECTRIC PLANTS. CWD PUBLISHED QUARTERLY UPDATES TO ITS GROUNDBREAKING ONLINE MAP DOCUMENTING THE EXTENT OF OIL AND GAS WELL PERMITTING IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, MAINTAINING PUBLIC PRESSURE FOR AN END TO NEW EXTRACTION PERMITS AND A SAFETY BUFFER BETWEEN HOMES AND WELLS. CWD CONTINUED ITS INVESTIGATION AND REPORTING ON WHY GASOLINE IN CALIFORNIA IS SO MUCH MORE COSTLY THAN THE REST OF THE NATION AND SPURRED STATEWIDE INVESTIGATION OF POTENTIAL MARKET MANIPULATION. CWD CONTINUED A PUBLIC EDUCATION CAMPAIGN TO EXPOSE THE FAILURES OF CALIFORNIA'S BOTTLE DEPOSIT RECYCLING SYSTEM. A CWD REPORT, "WASTE HAULERS: THE SQUARE PEG IN THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY", EXPLORES THE WASTE HAULING INDUSTRY'S CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE FAILURE OF CALIFORNIA'S BOTTLE DEPOSIT PROGRAM AND IDENTIFIES THE ROAD TO REFORM. CWD SUPPORTED LEGISLATION THAT PASSED THE STATE SENATE FOR THE FIRST TIME TO CREATE AN EXTENDED PRODUCER RESPONSIBILITY SYSTEM, MAKING THE INDUSTRY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE RECYCLING OF THEIR BOTTLES AND CANS. IN 2021, CWD ISSUED 19 NEWS RELEASES AND GENERATED 93 NEWS STORIES ON THESE TOPICS THAT APPEARED ON STATE AND NATIONAL TELEVISION AND RADIO PROGRAMS, AND IN PRINT AND ONLINE NEWS OUTLETS.

PRIVACY, CORPORATE ACCOUNTABILITY & POLITICAL REFORM -- CONSUMER WATCHDOG (CWD) EDUCATES THE PUBLIC ABOUT ISSUES RELATED TO CONSUMER RIGHTS, PRIVACY, TECHNOLOGY AND POLITICAL REFORM, AND RESEARCHES AND INFORMS THE PUBLIC ABOUT CORPORATE INVOLVEMENT IN THE POLITICAL PROCESS. IN 2021, CWD WORKED TO PROTECT CONSUMER PRIVACY AND SAFETY IN AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES AND CONNECTED CARS. CWD BEGAN AN INVESTIGATION INTO HOW DATA GATHERED ABOUT CONSUMERS BY THEIR CONNECTED CARS IS THE NEW FRONTIER OF DATA COLLECTION FOR COMPANIES THAT MONETIZE PERSONAL INFORMATION FOR PROFIT. CWD MONITORED IMPLEMENTATION OF CALIFORNIA'S STRONGEST-IN-THE-NATION DATA PRIVACY PROTECTIONS AND THE LAUNCH OF THE CALIFORNIA PRIVACY PROTECTION AGENCY TO ENFORCE THE LAW. THE LAW WILL ENABLE RESIDENTS TO PROTECT THEIR PERSONAL INFORMATION FROM UNAUTHORIZED USE. CWD RESEARCHED AND EXPOSED THE CONFLICTS OF INTEREST CREATED BY CORPORATE CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS TO POLITICIANS ACROSS OUR PROGRAM AREAS. IN 2021, CWD ISSUED 3 NEWS RELEASES AND GENERATED 20 NEWS STORIES ON THESE TOPICS THAT APPEARED ON STATE AND NATIONAL TELEVISION AND RADIO PROGRAMS, AND IN PRINT AND ONLINE NEWS OUTLETS.