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June 2009
Highlights of this issue:
A hearty thanks to all our sponsors, our donors and our outstanding volunteers.
Warm regards,
Amy Bach
Executive Director
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"When I first heard about UP's work, I was amazed. An organization that helps you fight back when your insurance company is trying to cheat you? Now that is a service we all need!"
- E.L., Albany, CA.
Consider This:
If your property has been damaged but not destroyed, click here to read UP's new tip sheet about the unique claim issues related to partial losses.
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Roadmap to Recovery™ |
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 Karen Reimus lending a helping handbook in Yorba Linda, CA
Wildfire Recovery Support
UP continues to support recovering '07 fire families in Rancho Bernardo (San Diego County), and '08 fire families in Yorba Linda (Orange County). UP staff and volunteers traveled to Santa Barbara to give one-on-one guidance and distribute emergency supplies to 2009 Jesusita fire victims. Executive Director Amy Bach attended a CDI press conference in Sylmar announcing $46 million AIG settlement, and speakers presented information on sustainability and green rebuilding at Roadmap to Recovery™ meetings. Click here to read more about UP's continuing disaster recovery work in Southern California.
In addition to giving survivors one-on-one guidance, UP is distributing Roadmap to Recovery™ Organizers, home inventory flash drives, and Disaster Recovery Handbooks. Help us cover the cost of these emergency supplies by donating today at: http://tinyurl.com/donateUP.
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Advocacy & Action |
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LIFE - HEALTH - DISABILITY |
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 Policyholder attorney/UP sponsor Glenn Kantor is experienced in litigating offset provisions.
The Outrage Of Offsets
Private disability insurance is supposed to provide a safety net should we ever develop a disability that prevents us from working. But this security can be compromised by "offsets" (deductions) that you might not expect. A two-part investigative news story dealing with this issue aired on CBS5 in April. Executive Director Amy Bach was interviewed for the segment about a man stricken with Lou Gehrig's disease who learned too late that his disability payouts were much lower than expected. Read the full article and watch the episodes here.
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AUTO |
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Please Take Our Survey On "Green" Discounts
To help our members get better discounts on their car insurance, UP is compiling data. We are surveying our readers to find out how much of a price break people would need in order to change their driving habits. Please help us by taking a few minutes to complete our short seven-question survey at http://tinyurl.com/d55pvx
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LEGAL |
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Gene Anderson, the moving force behind UP’s Amicus Project
Another Amicus Victory
In March, Anderson Kill & Olick won a victory for the State of California against Allstate in connection with the state's claim for the cost of cleaning up the Stringfellow
Superfund site. United Policyholders helped out with amicus briefs drafted by David Gauntlett in both the Court of Appeal and the California Supreme Court. Click here to read brief synopses of this and other cases where United Policyholders has appeared since publication of our last newsletter. We also invite you to visit: http://uphelp.org/amicus.html to read our complete archive of amicus briefs.
Support UP's Amicus Project
The number of briefs that insurance companies file to convince courts to see things their way far outnumber pro-policyholder briefs. Consumers' voices are often drowned out by insurance companies. UP works to change this through our Amicus Project. Help us level the playing field for consumers in court by supporting UP's Amicus Project today. Tax-deductible donations can be made online: http://tinyurl.com/donateUP. |
Book Review: Polarizing the Case by Rick Friedman
UP Board Chair Alice Wolfson contributed a review of Rick Friedman's 2008 book, Polarizing the Case: Exposing and Defeating the Malingering Myth. The book is aimed at trial lawyers, teaching them techniques on how to fight back when the defense suggests your client is exaggerating. Click here to read Wolfson's review.
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Roadmap to Preparedness |
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 UP’s Emily Cabral with Sonya Sistare
at the Home and Community Fire
Protection workshop in Lake Tahoe
On The Road(map) To Preparedness
In May, UP Program Coordinator Emily Cabral attended The Home and Community Fire Protection Workshop in Lake Tahoe. Fire Safe Council members, state and federal firefighters, as well as State Forestry officers from Nevada and California gathered to discuss the area's preparation efforts for future wildfires. Click here to read more.
No Time Like Drought Time to Clear Brush
The 2009 wildfire season has already started with the Jesusita wildfire in early May. With grim predictions of droughts in California and other western states, we're anticipating more to come. We invite you to read UP's new publication, "Preparedness Tips from the Trenches", as well as landscaping advice from firefighters, to make your home easier to defend against wildfire. Click here to read more.
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UP News |
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Bach Talk
UP Executive Director
Amy Bach
Read cutting edge news and views from UP's Executive Director, Amy Bach, a 20-year veteran of insurance politics. Amy reports on an underinsured policyholder's victory against State Farm, and argues against the current proposal for a new system of federal insurance regulation. Click here to read more.
Board Update
UP welcomes two new board members, Shirley Roberson and Deborah Senn, and bids farewell to departing member Tricia Swift. Click here to learn more about their valuable contribution to UP.
UP In The Headlines
In April, UP was named among the top 100 most useful websites (see 2009 Best Investments, "http://tinyurl.com/UPsite100useful"). UP’s work has been highlighted in several news articles across the country in recent months: The Mobile Press Register, ( "Allstate Selling Policies Again Along AL Cost Through Lightly Regulated Company"), Florida Sun Sentinel ("Consumer Groups Ask Governor Christ to Veto Home Insurance Deregulation"), the National Underwriter, ("Consumer Watchdogs Want Insurers to Reign in Surge Costs"), and The Insurance Journal, ("Consumer Advocates Wary of Federal Regulation Plans").
What's New In The UP Library
• Tips for Partial Fire Damage Claims
• A Policyholder’s Guide to Mediation
• A Simplified Guide to Your Homeowners Policy
Thanks To Our Sponsors
Click here to read our list of current sponsors, and to learn more about our sponsorship program and how you can join.
SF business lawyer Frank Gilbert with
the firm of Schwartz & Cera
Volunteer Spotlight: Frank Gilbert, Esq.
Business/transaction lawyer Frank Gilbert of the San Francisco law firm of Schwartz & Cera has provide pro bono legal services to UP for many years. In addition to numerous matters relating to our business operations, Frank Gilbert helped us reach a fair, informal resolution when a for-profit company was appropriating United Policyholders materials and misleading the public. Frank helps UP preserve the non-commercial integrity of the information we disseminate and protect our corporate identity. To read about past spotlighted volunteers click here.
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PLEASE NOTE
United Policyholders is an independent not-for-profit resource. UP does not sell or profit from sale of insurance and does not accept financial support from insurance companies or insurance trade associations. The information provided in this newsletter is a public service to our readers. We do not warrant the quality of any product or vendor identified in this newsletter.
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