CONSUMER WATCHDOG
6330 SAN VICENTE BLVD NO 250, LOS ANGELES, CA 90048 www.consumerwatchdog.org

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Organizations Filed Purposes: TO CONDUCT EDUCATIONAL AND RESEARCH ACTIVITIES AND LITIGATION ON CONSUMER AND PUBLIC INTEREST ISSUES INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, ISSUES AFFECTING CONSUMER PROTECTION AND GOVERNMENT REFORM; AND TO MAKE SAID RESEARCH AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC.

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 AND RETURN ILLEGAL OVERCHARGES. CWD COUNSEL BRIEFED APPEALS AT THE U.S. SIXTH CIRCUIT AND NINTH CIRCUIT COURTS OF APPEAL IN CASES TO GIVE HIV PATIENTS THE ABILITY TO ACCESS THEIR MEDICATIONS IN A MANNER THAT PROTECTS THEIR HEALTH AND THEIR PRIVACY. CWD LITIGATED 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. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)CWD INITIATED OR INTERVENED IN SEVERAL PROCEEDINGS AT THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE TO CHALLENGE EXCESSIVE INSURANCE RATE INCREASES, AND CHALLENGED THE DISCRIMINATORY USE OF DRIVERS' JOB AND EDUCATION LEVEL TO SET AUTO INSURANCE RATES. CWD SUCCESSFULLY ARGUED BEFORE THE SECOND DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL TO UPHOLD A $27 MILLION FINE AGAINST AN AUTO INSURANCE COMPANY FOR CHARGING ILLEGAL FEES TO DRIVERS. CWD SUCCESSFULLY DEFENDED INSURANCE REFORM PROPOSITION 103'S TRANSPARENCY PROVISIONS, ENSURING THAT INSURANCE COMPANIES' FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS WITH PARENT COMPANIES THAT MAY AFFECT CONSUMER PREMIUMS MUST BE MADE PUBLIC. CWD CONTINUED LITIGATING AN ACTION TO HOLD LOS ANGELES DEPARTMENT OF WATER AND POWER ACCOUNTABLE FOR ILLEGAL FINANCIAL TRANSFERS OF RATEPAYER MONEY, AND A TOXIC POLLUTION CASE ENFORCING STATE ENVIRONMENTAL LAW. IN 2019, CWD ISSUED 4 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.

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 2019, CWD EDUCATED THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE NEED TO LIMIT FOSSIL FUEL SUPPLIES IN THE FIGHT AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE, INCLUDING CURBING OIL DRILLING AND LIMITING FOSSIL FUEL-POWERED ELECTRIC PLANTS. CWD LAUNCHED AN INTERACTIVE ONLINE MAP DOCUMENTING THE EXTENT OF OIL AND GAS WELL PERMITTING IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA. CWD CONDUCTED AN ETHICS REVIEW AT THE STATE OIL AND GAS AGENCY, REVEALING THAT EIGHT REGULATORS HAD INVESTED HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN THE OIL COMPANIES THEY REGULATE.(CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)THE FINDINGS INSTIGATED A STATEWIDE FREEZE ON FRACKING, AND A STATE ETHICS INVESTIGATION INTO TWO OF THE REGULATORS' CONFLICTS OF INTEREST. CWD LAUNCHED A PUBLIC EDUCATION CAMPAIGN TO EXPOSE THE FAILURES OF CALIFORNIA'S BOTTLE DEPOSIT RECYCLING SYSTEM. A CWD REPORT UNCOVERED RIP-OFFS IN THE PROGRAM THAT COST CONSUMERS MORE THAN $500 MILLION ANNUALLY, AND PUT FORTH A PROGRAM OF REFORM. A CWD AUDIT FOUND TWO-THIRDS OF GROCERY STORES THAT ARE REQUIRED TO REDEEM CONSUMERS' BOTTLE DEPOSITS DO NOT. CWD ORGANIZED MORE THAN 60 ENVIRONMENTAL AND CONSUMER ORGANIZATIONS TO PETITION THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE FOR A RULE REQUIRING INSURANCE COMPANIES TO DISCLOSE THEIR INVESTMENTS IN, AND UNDERWRITING OF, FOSSIL FUEL PROJECTS. IN 2019, CWD ISSUED 24 NEWS RELEASES AND GENERATED 200 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 2019, 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 WORKED TO ENFORCE AND PROTECT CALIFORNIA'S INSURANCE REFORM PROPOSITION 103, WHICH REGULATES MOST PROPERTY/CASUALTY INSURANCE INCLUDING AUTO, HOMEOWNERS AND SMALL BUSINESS INSURANCE. CWD ORGANIZED A DOZEN COMMUNITY AND CIVIL RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS TO CHALLENGE INSURANCE COMPANIES' USE OF A DRIVER'S JOB (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)AND LEVEL OF EDUCATION TO SET AUTO INSURANCE RATES AND PETITIONED THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE TO BAN THE DISCRIMINATORY PRACTICE, PROMPTING AN INVESTIGATION BY THE DEPARTMENT. CWD EDUCATED THE PUBLIC ABOUT INSURANCE INDUSTRY EFFORTS IN THE LEGISLATURE AND IN THE COURTS TO UNDERMINE PROP 103'S CONSUMER PROTECTIONS, BLOCKED AN INSURANCE INDUSTRY ATTEMPT TO STRIP POLICYHOLDERS OF NEW PRIVACY PROTECTIONS, AND EDUCATED LAWMAKERS ABOUT THE LAW'S POWER TO PROTECT HOMEOWNERS FROM INSURANCE INDUSTRY WILDFIRE ABUSES. IN 2019, CWD ISSUED 21 NEWS RELEASES AND GENERATED 150 NEWS STORIES ON THESE TOPICS THAT APPEARED ON STATE AND NATIONAL TELEVISION AND RADIO PROGRAMS, AND IN PRINT AND ONLINE NEWS OUTLETS.

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