I've reached a point where I just had to vent my annoyance at the insurance industry commercials on initiative 67. Do they think if they mention the words "frivolous lawsuits" and "money in trial lawyers' pockets" enough times, people won't care what the initiative is actually about and just go along and vote "yes"?
Here is some insight into the issue: The Washington Senate, the House and the Governor have signed the Fair Conduct Act into law. This act would make it possible for consumers to sue their insurance companies for up to triple damages and for their attorneys' fees if the insurance companies deliberately deny legitimate insurance claims. The insurance companies, who make millions of dollars on delaying and denying legitimate claims, immediately crafted this initiative to stop the new law before it even takes effect. They scare the voters with the claim that frivolous lawsuits will make the insurance rates go up; and, for good measure, throw in how trial lawyers will benefit if this law was to take effect.
There was a definite need for this law, because up until now, insurance companies could deny a claim, and it was up to the consumer to take them to court. Often the consumer who files a claim has other priorities and many simply won't file. The ones that actually fight for their claims may be stuck in the courts for years, racking up attorney bills, and if they win their case will only get a claim paid that was due to them from the beginning. The insurance companies have nothing to loose and much to gain from this tactic. The new law will allow for treble damages. If the claim was shown to have been legitimate and the insurance deliberately denied it, they will have to pay up to three times the claim amount. Companies that operate in good faith will have nothing to fear from this law.
The insurance company lobby spent 8 million dollars on this ad campaign. This clearly shows how much is at stake for them. The way to protect consumer rights is to vote "NO" on initiative 67.
Here is a CNN news segment on the issue that is worth to be watched from beginning to end.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvPW087RiJ8
Sandy Nelson
Realtor for Olympia Area Real Estate
www.sandynelsonrealestate.com
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As a your full service Realtor and Accredited Staging Professional in the Olympia, Lacey, Yelm, Dupont and Fort Lewis area, I specialize in single family residential property and military relocation.
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Yes, I am tired of hearing the insurance industry threatening me. That has been their whole campaign. They have even told us how much higher our rates will go - I hate insurance companies, really I do!!
I'm not from Washington but I like the sounds of that Fair Conduct Act...it sounds like something we need here in Florida. What a wonderful law for consumers - Way to go Washington! After the hurricanes came thru here a couple yers ago, people lived with roof leaks and in little trailers and many, many homeowners wound up in foreclosure because they couldn't keep up with mortgage payments on homes in which they couldn't live. One guy I met lost his entire inventory (he owned a party rental company) when the roof of his store caved in. He literally couldn't work and the insurance company jerked him around. That guy & his wife lost everything. If we had the Fair Conduct Act here, maybe the ending for their story would be much different.
Jo, I'm glad you can fully express how you feel.
Wendy, California, I believe, was the first state to pass a Fair Conduct Act. There will be more states following suit, but the insurance industry won't yield without a fight.
Sandy
Sandy
I like your blog, and I appreciate the information.
I am in the process of filling out my ballot before Tuesday, and I still feel I don't know enough about all of the issues. This has helped.
The CNN movie is a must watch!
Harold, I'm glad I could provide the information you needed to make up your mind. Unfortunately many voters vote based on the advertising they see on TV only, and never research both sides of the issue. In that case, the lobby who pours the most cash into a television campaign will get the most votes.
Sandy
Hi Sandy, That is indeed valuable information. Thanks for keeping up with the news and letting us know.
Elizabeth, If you read my entire blog you can see that I explained, that in order to protect consumer rights one should vote "no" on initiative 67. The ballot did a good job of explaining which way to vote according to which intent.
Kay, The good news is that the majority of voters rejected initiative 67.
Sandy