Sponsored message
Logged in as
Audience-funded nonprofit news
radio tower icon laist logo
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
Subscribe
  • Listen Now Playing Listen

This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.

This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.

News

Did Mercury Insurance Scam its California Customers?

poizner-insurance-mercury.jpg
Photo: J.Rossier Photography via LAist Featured Photos

One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.

As the insurance behemoth bankrolls Prop 17 on the June ballot, the company is finding their way into the news by another another route. "An examination done by the Department of Insurance appears to show that Mercury Insurance has disregarded California's consumer protection statutes and overcharged consumers," Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner said yesterday. "In addition, the Department's examination finds that Mercury Insurance has apparently continued to violate the law despite agreements with the state to terminate its illegal behavior."

Various allegation are being thrown at the company, including barring bartenders, liqour store owners, painters, cocktail waitresses, waiters and artists. The company also still hasn't corrected violations made in 1998 and 2002, according to Poizner. Ouch.

One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.

You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.

If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief

Make your tax-deductible donation today