California Worker's Compensation : Injured Workers' advocates want insurance regulation, call Garamendi plan "incomplete" and "flawed" — 2005-05-05

	News from around the internet (archived)   7:08PM Workers' Compensation Industry Leader Jack Webb Dies (The Auto Channel). SAN FRANCISCO, May 3 -- Former State Fund President Jack Webb -- one of the most influential and colorful figures in the 91-year history of California's workers' compensation insurance system -- died May 2nd. Webb had been undergoing treatment for lung cancer. A Petaluma, California resident, he was 69. Webb joined State Fund in 1959 and rose through the ranks to the presidency of California's Workers' Compensation Industry Leader Jack Webb Dies (PR Newswire via Yahoo! Finance) (archived). Former State Fund President Jack Webb -- one of the most influential and colorful figures in the 91-year history of California's workers' compensation insurance system -- died May 2nd. Athletic Field Specialist Arrested on Multiple Felony Charges for Alleged Workers' Compensation Insurance Fraud (PR Newswire via Yahoo! Finance) (link unavailable). John Arcurio, 49, of Fillmore, was arrested on April 26, 2005 and charged with two felony counts of violating section 1871.4 of the Insurance Code, making false statements for the purpose of obtaining compensation, and one felony count of violating section 550 of the California Penal Code, knowingly conspiring to conceal or fail to disclose any insurance benefit to which the person is entitled.

From a February 11 News Release: (archived) "SACRAMENTO, CA – Injured workers’ advocates today renewed their call for workers’ compensation insurance rate regulation, and called Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi’s proposed changes “incomplete” for failing to include caps on rates, and “flawed” for sentencing injured workers to live in pain, without adequate treatment. “After injured workers’ benefits were cut by more than $5 billion last year, most insurers did nothing but pocket record profits. The Commissioner would reduce benefits to injured workers but allow unlimited profits for insurance companies. Garamendi’s plan includes a floor on rates, but no ceiling, so insurance companies can continue to gouge California employers. That’s not right,” said David Schwartz, President-Elect of the California Applicants’ Attorneys Association (CAAA). “Garamendi’s plan takes away benefits from injured workers, benefits that are already too low. You can cut injured workers’ benefits down to zero, and without regulation insurance companies may not reduce premiums by a single dollar.” "