Trutanich, Baca, Cooley And Consumer Protection

Did Trutanich go "novelty check" for effect?

Have you read the article in the Los Angeles Times about City Attorney Carmen Trutanich, Sherif Lee Baca, District Attorney Steve Cooley, and the two million dollar check?

Long story short:  Trutanich hand-delivered to the County a $2 million check from the settlement of billboard litigation. Under the law, the money can be used only for consumer protection.  Trutanich suggested instead that the County hand it to his political ally, Baca, to use for rape kits. Truntanich claimed, apparently with a straight face, that processing rape kits constitutes consumer protection.  Cooley called Trutanich's personal delivery of the check bizarre.

Okay, enough politics, you public attorneys. It's time to get your "consumer protection" on. I have a terrific lawsuit for you, that can not only protect consumers, but can net local government a huge recovery.  Ready?  File an action for unfair competition and false advertising against Safeco for lying to its insureds about policy limits.  Be sure to seek civil penalties.

Safeco falsely tells insureds, in writing, that it will apply the policy limits on their declarations pages to "any covered loss."  The policy limits on the declarations pages, in turn, are for hundreds of thousands of dollars -- which is what it would take to rebuild your home. But when you actually submit a claim for a covered loss, surprise!  Safeco says that a $10,000 policy limit applies to some losses, even though that figure does not appear on the declarations pages.  And ten grand wouldn't replace your car, much less rebuild your house.

This is a massive consumer rip-off, and the law lets City Attorneys and District Attorneys go after insurance companies like this. For example, in People ex del. Bill Lockyer v. Fremont Life Insurance Company (2002) 104 Cal. App. 4th 508, the Court of Appeal upheld an award of $2.5 million in civil fines, plus injunctive relief and an order requiring restitution.

So how about it, fellahs?  You want to play politics or protect consumers?  Either one of you is welcome to contact me. In the meantime, you can find out more at SafecoLitigation.com.