Kerley Schaffer LLP

05/06/2025

All about code upgrades - the most important thing you'll ever read about law & Ordinance (but not the kind you put in artillery)

You live in a really nice, but not really new home. Your dishwasher breaks and floods your kitchen. You call your insurer and say, "Hello, can you help?" You may even feel a little sheepish, but don't--you paid your premiums, and this is what insurance is for. Trust us, the insurers are doing just fine.

While you're waiting for the check, you'll likely call a contractor who will come over and say, right, looks like it'll cost $19,472, or something like that. And you'll sign the contract, move your food over to your neighbor's place, take a deep breath, and hope the contractor knows what she's doing.

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. . . about law & Ordinance (but not the kind you put in artillery) You live in a really nice, but not really new home. Your dishwasher breaks and floods your kitchen. You call your insurer and say, "Hello, can you help?"  You may even feel a little sheepish, but don't--y

05/01/2025

After a Fire, Protect Your Rights, Reduce Headaches, Get Help!

It's a long, complicated process, with pitfalls created by insurers thinking about profits. All of which leads to extra stress at the worst possible time. Good news--there are ways to ease the pain, and increase your chances of making a full recovery.

First, call your insurance company as soon as hear about the loss. Don’t assume someone else will call the company for you.

Next, review your policy. If you don’t have a copy (people rarely do), request it from your insurance company. The policy is the only way to know what your insurer will pay.

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Fire strikes. Your house and things are lost. Insurance is supposed to soften the blow. Right? Wrong. Insurance companies rarely make rebuilding easy. It's a long, complicated process, with pitfalls created by insurers thinking about profits. All of which leads to extra stress at the worst possibl

04/29/2025

California homeowners are suing the FAIR Plan, the state’s last option for those needing fire insurance, accusing it of failing to provide the legally required coverage for smoke damage.

The class action case, filed Wednesday in Alameda County court, is being brought on behalf of the more than 350,000 policyholders on the FAIR Plan — a state-created pool of private insurers required to provide fire coverage to homeowners who can’t find it elsewhere.

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The class action case, filed Wednesday in Alameda County court, is being brought on behalf of more than 350,000 policyholders.

04/24/2025

California’s state-backed insurance plan has failed to provide adequate coverage for hundreds of thousands of homeowners living in wildfire zones, according to a new lawsuit.

The suit, filed in Alameda County Superior Court, alleges that the policies provided by California’s FAIR plan — the state’s insurer of last resort — fell short of the minimum coverage required by state law. It is seeking class-action status on behalf of 350,000 policyholders who may have been denied payouts for damages related to fire and smoke.

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California’s state-backed insurance plan has failed to provide adequate coverage for hundreds of thousands of homeowners living in wildfire zones, according to a new lawsuit.

04/22/2025

California home insurance provider sells subpar, illegal wildfire policies, lawsuit alleges

The California FAIR Plan, the state’s backup home insurance provider, is accused of selling inadequate policies for years to hundreds of thousands of residents, according to a lawsuit filed Wednesday. That has allowed the insurer to increase profits by illegally denying — in part or in full — hundreds of claims related to fire damage, the lawsuit alleges.

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The California FAIR Plan has seen a rapid rise in policyholders in recent years.

04/17/2025

The sun had already set over The Grand, Frank Gehry’s skyscraper complex in downtown Los Angeles, as Ricardo Lara sat down for dinner at San Laurel, a flagship restaurant of famed chef José Andrés that offers sparkling views of the city.

Lara and a guest started with an Americano and a Diet Coke, according to a receipt from the California insurance commissioner’s meal the evening of Jan. 15, 2024. Over the next two and a half hours, Lara and company went on to order delicacies like jamón Iberico, pan con tomate, sea urchin, lobster salpicón, wild mushrooms, a rack of lamb, Andrés’ signature gambas al zahara, a $16 grapefruit, and chocolate mousse.

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An investigation found that Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara has been using a shadowy campaign committee to spend thousands on fancy meals & cocktails. And we have the receipts 🧾🥩🍸 The big question is: Whom was he eating & drinking with?

04/15/2025

Assessing Wildfire Risks Difficult As Coverage Woes Persist

Assessing wildfire risks has grown increasingly difficult for insurers, experts say, but a new report accusing California insurance companies of improperly restricting coverage has raised concerns that carriers are shirking their responsibilities as the blazes grow more destructive.

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Assessing Wildfire Risks Difficult As Coverage Woes Persist KS BuzzFAIR Plan Jul 22 Written By Sophia Studio Originally posted here Assessing wildfire risks has grown increasingly difficult for insurers, experts say, but a new report accusing California insurance companies of improperly restricting....

04/10/2025

A report on lawsuits against California's Fair Plan over denied wildfire smoke damage claims, with consumer advocates calling for accountability and advising policyholders on securing payouts.

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04/08/2025

The California FAIR Plan, a state-mandated insurance program known as the last resort for fire insurance, is facing legal action from policyholders who claim their smoke damage claims have been unjustly denied. A couple from Butte County is suing the FAIR Plan after their home, which survived a fire, suffered smoke damage. The couple alleges that the FAIR Plan refuses to cover the professional cleanup costs required to remove toxins from their home.

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The California FAIR Plan, a state-mandated insurance program known as the last resort for fire insurance, is facing legal action from policyholders.

04/03/2025

California couple sues insurance companies, FAIR Plan over wildfire coverage

03/29/2025

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/first-fires-now-fight-flaws-california-insurance-plan-will-test-l-home-rcna187569

Insurance companies run California’s FAIR Plan in secrecy and have stinted on claims and violated state laws, insurance regulators and customers allege.