Consumer Watchdog

Watchdog Exposes Phony Oil Refiner Arguments In Price Gouging Penalty Proceeding, Makes Case For Maximum Gross Refining Margin Of 70 Cents Per Gallon

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月曜日, 5月 6, 2024
Gasoline, Collusion, Jamie Court, CEC, DMO, Research, Vanderbilt University, University of California, Davis, Shock, Commission, Court, Consumer Watchdog, Terrorism, Multimedia, Behavior, Division, UC, Propane

SACRAMENTO, Calif., May 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- In comments filed with the California Energy Commission (CEC) Friday, Consumer Watchdog made the case for a maximum gross refining margin that penalizes refiners for profits of over 70 cents per gallon.

Key Points: 
  • SACRAMENTO, Calif., May 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- In comments filed with the California Energy Commission (CEC) Friday, Consumer Watchdog made the case for a maximum gross refining margin that penalizes refiners for profits of over 70 cents per gallon.
  • The nonprofit group pointed to state data showing 2022 and 2023 as unprecedented years for refining margins and that refining margins for the rest of the last decade averaged 64 cents per gallon.
  • Consumer Watchdog called out California's big five oil refiners, which make 98% of California's gasoline, for creating artificial supply shortages that allowed them to make excessive profits.
  • "It would be disingenuous policymaking to fail to implement a maximum price gouging penalty because the Commission fears refiners will collude to keep prices higher than warranted.

California Attorney General's Office and Osteopathic Medical Board of California Files Charges Against Bakersfield OB/GYN, Says Consumer Watchdog

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木曜日, 5月 2, 2024
News, Risk, Pregnancy, Blood pressure, Death, History, Family, Patient, Consumer Watchdog, Mother, Multimedia, Standard of care, Medical device

BAKERSFIELD, Calif., May 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Osteopathic Medical Board of California (OMBC) and the Attorney General's office filed an accusation of charges of gross negligence, and repeated negligent acts against Bakersfield OB/GYN Hans Chunghan Yu D.O. this week. Consumer Watchdog's work with families who lost loved ones to maternal negligence in Bakersfield spurred multiple families to come forward and report deaths and longterm harm due to negligent care by Dr. Yu. The Osteopathic Medical Board is pursuing charges for the harm done to three of those families. Consumer Watchdog worked directly with one of the mothers, Susanna Talamantes, to write her daughter's death complaint. Susanna's daughter Laylianna died the same day that she had a regular office visit with Dr. Yu. Laylianna's death complaint is one of the three complaints that is responsible for the accusation brought against Dr. Yu's license.  According to Susanna, her pregnancy was high risk because of her history of very high blood pressure. At an office visit just before her due date, Dr. Yu advised Susanna to not take her blood pressure medication before her next office visit so he could rush her in to an emergency c-section. Susanna followed the doctor's advice and appeared for her next office visit two weeks later without having taken blood pressure medication. Dr. Yu was aware her blood pressure was very high but told Susanna to meet him at the hospital later that day. Had Dr. Yu called an ambulance and sent Susanna to the hospital right away, her baby girl would have survived. You can read more about Susanna's daughter Laylianna's story here. "Dr. Yu knew that I was a high risk patient yet he chose to put my baby and I at risk. I trusted Dr. Yu. He told me I'm not supposed to tell you this but don't take your blood pressure medicine before your next office visit. Your blood pressure will be elevated and I can rush you in for an emergency c-section," stated Susanna Talamantes. "I followed his advice but he didn't send me directly to the hospital. He sent me home.  My baby Laylianna died and I will never be the same." You can find Dr. Yu's enforcement accusation here. Consumer Watchdog worked directly with the family of another of Dr. Yu's patients, Tracy Dominguez and Xavier De Leon, to write their death complaints on behalf of Demi Dominguez and her baby Malakhi De Leon. The Osteopathic Medical Board investigated Demi's complaint and found that her death was determined to be a simple departure from the standard of care which meant no discipline for Dr. Yu. Meanwhile, baby Malakhi's death complaint was left with no review for three years and was closed. "Receiving the news that Demi's death complaint was closed with no discipline felt like I had lost my daughter all over again," stated Tracy Dominguez. "I felt defeated but also motivated to continue to advocate in my community along with Consumer Watchdog." Dr. Hans Yu of Yu Medical Group previously worked with the former doctor Arthur Park who surrendered his license to practice medicine in 2021 after a 25 year history of harming mothers and babies in Bakersfield.  Eight families came forward with their stories of death and longterm harm to mothers and babies under the care of Dr. Yu. The Osteooathic Medical Board chose to pursue charges on behalf of three of those families. "This was a three year effort to work with families to encourage them to come forward, file death and lifelong harm complaints, and continue to work with us to try to move these complaints through a complicated enforcement process," stated Michele Monserratt-Ramos, Kathy Olsen Patient Advocate at Consumer Watchdog. "This action taken by the Attorney General's Office and the Osteopathic Medical Board was fueled by a people powered campaign for justice," Consumer Watchdog's volunteer team of advocates have had to take extraordinary actions to move the Osteopathic Medical Board to take disciplinary action against this physician's license. Dr. Yu's accusation is only the fourth example of an accusation/charges that the Osteopathic Medical Board of California has filed since January 2024.

Key Points: 
  • BAKERSFIELD, Calif., May 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Osteopathic Medical Board of California (OMBC) and the Attorney General's office filed an accusation of charges of gross negligence, and repeated negligent acts against Bakersfield OB/GYN Hans Chunghan Yu D.O.
  • The Osteopathic Medical Board is pursuing charges for the harm done to three of those families.
  • Consumer Watchdog worked directly with one of the mothers, Susanna Talamantes, to write her daughter's death complaint.
  • Dr. Yu's accusation is only the fourth example of an accusation/charges that the Osteopathic Medical Board of California has filed since January 2024.

Commissioner Lara Proposes Minimal Oversight, Secrecy of Black-Box Wildfire Insurance Models, Says Consumer Watchdog

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火曜日, 4月 23, 2024
Catastrophe modeling, Risk, Bias, Proposition 103, Legislation, Consumer Watchdog, Commissioner, Multimedia, FAIR, Confidentiality, Public records, Insurance

LOS ANGELES, April 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara's proposal to let insurance companies use private black-box models and AI to predict the risk of catastrophic wildfires will raise home insurance rates without transparency or accountability, Consumer Watchdog will testify at a Department of Insurance workshop this afternoon.

Key Points: 
  • Contrary to Commissioner Lara's public statements, no independent panel of experts would review or approve a model for use.
  • California law passed by the voters in Proposition 103 requires insurance companies to disclose everything that has an impact on insurance prices.
  • Insurance Commissioner Lara's "historic agreement" with insurance companies last September included allowing the industry to use black-box catastrophe models to set insurance prices.
  • Insurance companies that refuse should be barred from the home and auto insurance markets for five years.

Two Bills Holding Community Oil Drillers Accountable Advance To Appropriations Committee, Says Consumer Watchdog

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火曜日, 4月 23, 2024
Assembly, Jamie Court, Genetics, Cancer, Policy, Health, Foot, Legislation, Consumer Watchdog, Environment, Poverty, Multimedia, Appropriations Committee

64 environmental, consumer and public interest groups came out for AB 3155, sponsored by Consumer Watchdog and the Center for Race, Poverty and the Environment.

Key Points: 
  • 64 environmental, consumer and public interest groups came out for AB 3155, sponsored by Consumer Watchdog and the Center for Race, Poverty and the Environment.
  • Under AB 3155, oil drillers could face penalties ranging from $250,000 to a $1 million.
  • "Oil drillers think people living in these communities are disposable, which is why they don't use the best pollution control technology," Jamie Court, president of Consumer Watchdog, said.
  • The cost of oil companies doing business cannot be paid for in residents' health and their subsequent health costs."

Federal Court Rules CVS Acted With "Deliberate Indifference" When It Adopted Rx Program That Discriminates Against People Living With HIV, Says Consumer Watchdog

Retrieved on: 
金曜日, 4月 19, 2024
CVS, Pharmacy, LLP, Supreme court, CVS Pharmacy, Senior counsel, District court, Pressure, Consumer Watchdog, Medicine, CVS Caremark, Order, Failure, Multimedia, HIV, Affordable Care Act, Lawyer, Pharmacist, Health insurance

The lawsuit alleges that the program cuts off access to knowledgeable pharmacists and other critical benefits and services essential for people living with HIV.

Key Points: 
  • The lawsuit alleges that the program cuts off access to knowledgeable pharmacists and other critical benefits and services essential for people living with HIV.
  • The four HIV-positive "John Doe" Plaintiffs in the case are represented by lawyers for the non-profit Consumer Watchdog and Whatley Kallas, LLP.
  • "… Plaintiffs sufficiently allege that Defendants implemented The Program by "utiliz[ing] its discretion" under its contracts with employers and 'offer[ing] financial inducements to plan sponsors.
  • Furthermore...CVS Caremark has an ongoing ability to alter plan terms and the prescription drug benefits provided thereunder to Class Members.

New Oil Drilling Permit Approvals Fall To Zero For First Time Since Newsom Came To Office, Making History, Consumer Watchdog and FracTracker Alliance Say

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金曜日, 4月 19, 2024
Well, Assembly, Cancer, Hearing, Health, Consumer Watchdog, Multimedia, Appropriations Committee, Oil

Wells within the setback zone produce an average of only two barrels of oil per day, adding almost no economic benefit.

Key Points: 
  • Wells within the setback zone produce an average of only two barrels of oil per day, adding almost no economic benefit.
  • Scientific evidence shows a direct link between drilling, pre-term births, respiratory illnesses and cancer among people who live in close proximity to oil drilling," said Liza Tucker, consumer advocate with Consumer Watchdog.
  • "It's also not profitable for oil companies to drill for oil inside the health protective zone.
  • To see the number of drilling permits approved in the first quarter of 2024 and locations, visit Consumer Watchdog and FracTracker Alliance's joint site: https://newsomwellwatch.com
    View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-oil-drilling-permit-approva...

Legislation Targeting Maternity Ward Closures Helps Families Seek Answers for Available Local Labor and Delivery Services, Says Consumer Watchdog

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水曜日, 4月 17, 2024
Physician, Mortality, NICU, Patient, Assembly, Adventist Health, Chula Vista, California, Public health, Hospital, Risk, California Department, Comment, Nursing, Public, Consumer Watchdog, Mother, Maternal death, Multimedia, Prenatal care, Letter

SACRAMENTO, Calif., April 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Assemblymember Akilah Weber's bill, AB 1895 requiring the state to conduct community impact assessments before hospitals may close California maternity wards, passed out of the Assembly Health Committee last night. Consumer Watchdog pointed to the bill's requirement that the hospital hold a community meeting before closing a maternity ward as a key reform. 

Key Points: 
  • Consumer Watchdog pointed to the bill's requirement that the hospital hold a community meeting before closing a maternity ward as a key reform.
  • At least 46 hospitals in California have closed or suspended their labor and delivery units since 2012 and many of these closures have led to maternity care deserts in lower socio-economic communities.
  • "Pregnant mothers need access to maternity services and for those services to be located in close proximity to where they live.
  • "The labor and delivery unit closures are prevalent in rural and lower income areas and are deeply impacting minority families and mothers of a lower socio-economic background.

Bill Holding Drillers Legally Liable for Harms Advances, Backed by 64 Public Interest Groups And Activist Nalleli Cobo, Says Consumer Watchdog

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火曜日, 4月 16, 2024
Assembly, Jamie Court, Cancer, Genetics, Health, AB, F-150, Nalleli Cobo, Foot, Legislation, Consumer Watchdog, Ford, Environment, Poverty, Multimedia, Energy Information Administration, Asthma

"I grew up 30 feet from an oil well," Nalleli Cobo, a Los Angeles resident, said.

Key Points: 
  • "I grew up 30 feet from an oil well," Nalleli Cobo, a Los Angeles resident, said.
  • It's a signal that some communities are expendable, that our lives don't matter as much as the fossil fuel industry's profits."
  • 64 environmental, consumer and public interest groups also came out for AB 3155, sponsored by Consumer Watchdog and the Center for Race, Poverty and the Environment.
  • The cost of oil companies doing business cannot be paid for in residents' health and their subsequent health costs."

Federal Prosecutors Ordered to Unseal FBI Warrants Related to L.A. City Attorney's Office and DWP Corruption says Consumer Watchdog

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火曜日, 4月 16, 2024
DWP, City attorney, Nature, Hearing, Corruption, Safety, Weeping Angel, Office, FBI, Final order, Federal, Hurst, Special counsel, Culture, Application, Public, Record, Court, Consumer Watchdog, Multimedia, Name, Grand jury, Blood, Government, Lawyer, Disclosure, Private investigator

LOS ANGELES, April 16, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- This morning a federal judge issued a final order on an application to unseal 33 search FBI warrants and related documents that detail federal prosecutors' investigation into unethical and illegal activity at the Los Angeles City Attorney's Office and the Department of Water and Power ("DWP").

Key Points: 
  • However, significant questions remain about the roles other key officials played in the City's misconduct, including former City Attorney Mike Feuer.
  • The FBI warrant materials were sought in a legal action by Consumer Watchdog and the Los Angeles Times.
  • Though government prosecutors widely embraced public disclosure of the warrant materials, they proposed certain redactions with which Consumer Watchdog and the Los Angeles Times disagreed.
  • Critics ask why certain individuals — including high-ranking personnel in the city attorney's office who remain unidentified in prosecutors' public court filings — escaped punishment."

Watchdog Renews Call to Mandate Insurance Companies Disclose the Fossil Fuel Projects They Insure as Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara Convenes Climate Summit

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火曜日, 4月 9, 2024
Climate change, Investment, Policy, Climate, Insurance, Future, Consumer Watchdog, Multimedia, FAIR, Public records, Disclosure

LOS ANGELES, April 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara must hold insurance companies accountable for their contributions to the climate crisis by mandating disclosure of the fossil fuel projects they insure, said Consumer Watchdog today. Commissioner Lara is hosting a climate summit April 9-10 in Los Angeles.

Key Points: 
  • LOS ANGELES, April 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara must hold insurance companies accountable for their contributions to the climate crisis by mandating disclosure of the fossil fuel projects they insure, said Consumer Watchdog today.
  • Last week, Insure Our Future reported that 12 California insurance companies that have announced coverage restrictions in the state made an estimated $3.6 billion by insuring fossil fuel infrastructure.
  • "Commissioner Lara can't position himself as a climate champion without making insurance companies come clean on their contributions to climate change.
  • Consumer Watchdog said that insurance companies complicit in climate change should have added responsibilities for pulling us back from the brink.