The $2.25 billion penalty that PG&E may face as a result of the deadly 2010 San Bruno pipeline explosion certainly sounds like harsh punishment.

State officials proposed the penalty last week, saying the eye-popping price tag was necessary to reform Pacific Gas and Electric Co.

 

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The first people to be convicted of burglarizing evacuated homes in the Mountain Shadows neighborhood during the Waldo Canyon Fire were issued heavy sentences Wednesday.

Shane Garrett, 35, was sentenced to 48 years in prison with 5 years of mandatory parole. Belinda Wells-Yates, 39, was sentenced 72 years in prison with a mandatory 8 years of parole.

 

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Many insurance carriers attempt to force their insureds into subsurface repair contracts based on the carrier's recommendations. In fact, carriers will refuse to provide coverage for a valid sinkhole claim unless the property owner repairs the property exactly the way the carrier recommends. Interestingly, the carrier will not agree to be liable if the recommended repair fails. This lack of security leaves many of my clients insecure. Many insureds obtain additional professional engineers' opinions as to the appropriate repair to stabilize the affected property and if the opinions differ from the carriers’, litigation often follows.

 

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Insurance agents usually promise a bunch of service and sell thier trust to policyholders at the point of sale. Most of the time, there is no loss or the loss is less than the deductible so even if the agent blundered and did not obtain the best coverage for the price, the agent's errors and ommissions are never raised. Insurance experts often realize most agents are taught that their duties to service policyholders are far greater than what agents will admit to if the policy coverages fail to provide indemnity after a loss.

 

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