Programs

  • Program 1 [2020]

    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 AND RETURN ILLEGAL OVERCHARGES. IN 2020, CWD COUNSEL SUCCESSFULLY ARGUED BEFORE THE U.S. NINTH CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEAL IN A CASE TO GIVE HIV PATIENTS THE ABILITY TO ACCESS THEIR MEDICATIONS IN A MANNER THAT PROTECTS THEIR HEALTH AND THEIR PRIVACY. CWD SETTLED CASES OVER THE ILLEGAL CONVERSION OF HEALTH INSURANCE POLICIES TO COVERAGE THAT DOES NOT PROVIDE OUT-OF-NETWORK COVERAGE AND CONTINUED TWO ACTIONS AGAINST HEALTH INSURERS FOR FAILING TO PAY THEIR TAXES. CWD SETTLED A CLASS ACTION AGAINST A LARGE LONG-TERM CARE INSURANCE COMPANY, WINNING A RATE FREEZE AND REFUNDS FOR CONSUMERS WHO ARGUED THE COMPANY HAD IMPROPERLY INCREASED THEIR MONTHLY CHARGES. CWD INITIATED OR INTERVENED IN SEVERAL PROCEEDINGS AT THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE TO CHALLENGE EXCESSIVE INSURANCE RATE INCREASES, 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 BROUGHT 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 INITIATED LITIGATION TO PROTECT CONSUMERS' PRIVACY, INCLUDING: A SUIT AGAINST A MAJOR VIDEOCONFERENCING APP FOR MISREPRESENTING ITS SECURITY PROTECTIONS TO CONSUMERS, AND A CLASS ACTION ON BEHALF OF AN HIV POSITIVE INDIVIDUAL AGAINST A CALIFORNIA PUBLIC HEALTH AGENCY FOR EXPOSING HIS AND OTHER PATIENTS' PROTECTED MEDICAL INFORMATION. CWD BROUGHT SUIT UNDER THE PUBLIC RECORDS ACT AGAINST A STATE AGENCY AND ITS HEAD FOR WITHHOLDING DOCUMENTS RELEVANT TO A CORRUPTION SCANDAL. CWD CONTINUED LITIGATING A TOXIC POLLUTION CASE ENFORCING STATE ENVIRONMENTAL LAW. IN 2020, CWD ISSUED 3 NEWS RELEASES AND GENERATED 22 NEWS STORIES ON THESE TOPICS THAT APPEARED ON STATE AND NATIONAL TELEVISION AND RADIO PROGRAMS, AND IN PRINT AND ONLINE NEWS OUTLETS.
    Geographies
    Not indicated
    Dates
    Jan 1, 2020 – Dec 31, 2020
    Source
    990
    No causes provided
    No populations provided
    –
    $2M

  • Program 2 [2020]

    ENERGY REFORM -- CONSUMER WATCHDOG (CWD) INVESTIGATES THE REGULATION OF COMPANIES GENERATING FOSSIL FUELS AND POLLUTION, ADVOCATES TO IMPROVE OVERSIGHT OF THE UTILITY INDUSTRY, AND FIGHTS FOR RELIABLE, AFFORDABLE AND CLEAN ENERGY. IN 2020, 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 EXPANDED ON ITS GROUNDBREAKING ONLINE MAP DOCUMENTING THE EXTENT OF OIL AND GAS WELL PERMITTING IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, ADDING VIDEO OF WELL SITES AND MAINTAINING PUBLIC PRESSURE FOR AN END TO NEW PERMITS. A STATE ETHICS INVESTIGATION INTO CONFLICTS OF INTEREST AT THE STATE OIL AND GAS AGENCY, SPURRED BY A CWD ETHICS REVIEW, LED TO THE RESIGNATION OF TWO REGULATORS WITH INVESTMENTS IN THE INDUSTRY AND FORCED OTHER REGULATORS WITH INDUSTRY INVESTMENTS TO DIVEST. CWD'S YEARS OF INVESTIGATION INTO HOW GASOLINE MARKET MANIPULATION CREATES THE "GOUGE GAP" THAT MAKES GASOLINE IN CALIFORNIA AS MUCH AS A DOLLAR MORE PER GALLON THAN THE REST OF THE NATION FED INTO A LAWSUIT BY THE STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL ACCUSING TWO INTERNATIONAL OIL COMPANIES OF PRICE-GOUGING. 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, EXPOSED THE SPECIAL INTEREST INFLUENCE IN THE RECYCLING PROGRAM THAT HAS COST TAXPAYERS BILLIONS, AND MAPPED OUT A PATH TO REFORM. CWD SUPPORTED LEGISLATION TO CREATE AN EXTENDED PRODUCER RESPONSIBILITY SYSTEM, PLACING THE ONUS ON INDUSTRY TO INCREASE CONSUMER REDEMPTIONS THROUGH MODERN TECHNOLOGY AND EASY CONSUMER ACCESS. IN 2020, CWD ISSUED 18 NEWS RELEASES AND GENERATED 82 NEWS STORIES ON THESE TOPICS THAT APPEARED ON STATE AND NATIONAL TELEVISION AND RADIO PROGRAMS, AND IN PRINT AND ONLINE NEWS OUTLETS.
    Geographies
    Not indicated
    Dates
    Jan 1, 2020 – Dec 31, 2020
    Source
    990
    No causes provided
    No populations provided
    –
    $510.3K

  • Program 3 [2020]

    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 2020, 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 LAUNCHED 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 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 HOW LEGISLATION SPONSORED BY THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY TO DEREGULATE HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE IN CALIFORNIA WOULD RAISE COSTS AND SLASH CONSUMER PROTECTIONS. A CWD PETITION SPURRED A PROPOSED RULE AT THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE THAT CHALLENGES INSURANCE COMPANIES' DISCRIMINATORY USE OF A DRIVER'S JOB AND LEVEL OF EDUCATION TO SET AUTO INSURANCE RATES. CWD EDUCATED LAWMAKERS ABOUT PROP 103'S POWER TO PROTECT HOMEOWNERS FROM INSURANCE INDUSTRY WILDFIRE ABUSES, AND ADVOCATED FOR NEW REGULATIONS TO DO SO AT THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE. IN 2020, CWD ISSUED 28 NEWS RELEASES AND GENERATED 101 NEWS STORIES ON THESE TOPICS THAT APPEARED ON STATE AND NATIONAL TELEVISION AND RADIO PROGRAMS, AND IN PRINT AND ONLINE NEWS OUTLETS.
    Geographies
    Not indicated
    Dates
    Jan 1, 2020 – Dec 31, 2020
    Source
    990
    No causes provided
    No populations provided
    –
    $483.7K