Stop the Press! Insurers Overcharge, Payout Less

Walton Barber, LLP — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 09:31:27 GMT

In what can only be call the "No Duh!" story of the week, the Consumer Federation of America has released a study that concludes the insurance industry overcharges U.S. consumers to the tune of about $870 per household.

According to Consumer Federation insurance director J. Robert Hunter, insurance carriers have enjoyed large profits by "methodically overcharging consumers, cutting back on coverage, underpaying insurance claims and getting taxpayers to pick up some of the tab for risks the insurers should cover."

This report is probably no surprise to people who have had to actually make an insurance claim in recent years. Low-ball offers to settle legitimate claims are the norm, often requiring the hiring of a lawyer to get a fair offer.

For the first nine months of 2007, Allstate Corp.'s loss ratio was 51.6 percent, compared with 43.5 percent in the same period of 2006, according to the study. From January to September of 2007, American International Group Inc.'s loss ratio was 53.8 percent, compared with 50.9 percent; St. Paul Travelers Companies Inc.'s was 45.5 percent, compared with 46.8 percent; Progressive Insurance Group's was 58.2 percent, compared with 53.1 percent; Berkshire Hathaway's was 58.6 percent, compared with 56.1 percent and Hartford Insurance Group's was 55.8 percent, compared with 53.2 percent.

The study estimates that the industry's net income after taxes in 2007 will be $65 billion.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Walton Barber, LLP

San Diego County Lists Health Inspection Grades

Walton Barber, LLP — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 17:07:45 GMT

If you ever wanted to know the results of the health inspection grades of your favorite San Diego restaurant, now you can.

The San Diego County Department of Health unveiled a new web site last week that will allow the public to view the health inspection grades of about 12,000 restaurants. The site also allows people to ask for complete inspection reports, and instructs people how to file a formal complaint.

So far the site has been a hit - thousands of them.

Liz Pozzebon, chief of the county's food and housing division, said more than 1,600 people had visited the site by Thursday afternoon, and that several people had already filled out "feedback" surveys.
"The general nature of their comments were, 'Great,' and 'I can view this from my Blackberry,' " she said. "So they seem to like it."

Under San Diego County standards, all restaurants are graded on a 100-point system under criteria including, but not limited to, cleanliness, contamination, food from unsafe sources, temperatures food is kept. The objective is to determine the potential for food bourn illness.

An "A" grade means that the restaurant has scored between 90 and 100 points. A "B" grade indicates a score between 80 and 89 points and that the restaurant needs significant improvement. A "C" grade means the eatery got a failing score between 70 and 79 points. "B" and "C" grades do not necessarily close down the facility.

Visit www.sdcounty.ca.gov/deh for more information.

For more information on this subject, please refer to the section on Defective and Dangerous Products.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Walton Barber, LLP

San Diego County Personal Injury Lawyer - General Discussion

Stop the Press! Insurers Overcharge, Payout Less

San Diego County Lists Health Inspection Grades