Tomorrow: Edison WRCP vs. litigation. Thursday: Smoke-claim rights. Plus SBA help and more!
Dear friends,
It’s crunch time! Ballots have been mailed. Polls are open. And this week brings crucial opportunities to get support that could shape our recovery.
Which Insurance Commissioner Candidate Will YOU Choose?
Insurance commissioner is an office many of us paid little attention to before the fires. I think I voted for the incumbent, but I honestly don’t recall.
We’ve all learned our lesson.
Department of Angels research found that 70% of insured Eaton and Palisades fire survivors reported delays, denials or underpayments impeding recovery. This is not just an insurer problem. It is, above all, a failure of regulation.
L.A. fire survivors have filed thousands of complaints with the California Department of Insurance (CDI) without resolution. Through all this, I kept hearing about one complaint officer, Coleen Vandepas, who actually fought for us. “Get Coleen!” was the word. But when Coleen called State Farm’s claims handling “shoddy” and “shameful,” a company lawyer complained to CDI leadership. And her pay was docked 10%.
Read all about it in this Los Angeles Times investigation.
That tells us far too much about State Farm’s influence over the agency supposed to regulate it.
I’ve lost count of all the times we’ve had to get spicy over nearly two years just to get our contracts enforced. The press conferences. The thousands of postcards. The detailed demands spelling out what Commissioner Lara could do under existing law to stop the misconduct.
We even did the homework for him, with an assist from a senior insider at CDI. One benefit of EFSN’s high profile: whistleblowers know where to find us. Five urgent actions to get claims paid, stop illegal smoke denials and keep displaced families housed. We delivered these demands in August 2025. Every state legislator representing the Eaton and Palisades fire areas signed on in support.
August 2025: Assemblymember Harabedian leads press conference with legislators and survivors to demand the five urgent actions from Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara.
We’ve even had to secure pro bono counsel to sue Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara just to participate in the State Farm enforcement case. CDI found hundreds of violations, yet proposes a $2 million fine without requiring correction of our claims.
Read why we had to sue our own insurance commissioner just to be heard.
Come January, we need an insurance commissioner who will do the job of holding insurers accountable. And who will partner with us on reforms to make insurance more accountable and accessible for every Californian.
That’s why I’m grateful that community leaders stepped up this week to demand answers from both insurance commissioner candidates on toxic smoke contamination.
EFSN joined Austin Beutner, Standing Homes, and EFRU in that demand.
Read what we asked in this news release.
Now we have direct answers from both candidates. Judge for yourself.
Read Senator Ben Allen’s response.
Please, do your research on both candidates.
This time around, in this most crucial of elections, let’s all choose with our eyes wide open!
TOMORROW (Wed) at 7p: Edison’s WRCP or Litigation? What Could Get You Home?
Eaton Fire friends: for many of us, the biggest unanswered question is what Edison will pay, and when. The answer could determine whether we get home.
Tomorrow we’re bringing you two of the three court-appointed liaison counsel coordinating hundreds of lawyers representing individual Eaton Fire plaintiffs.
They’ll come straight from tomorrow’s court hearing to our special two-hour Beat the Clock webinar, with up-to-the-minute developments.
Edison’s November 30 WRCP claim deadline is approaching. Before making choices this big, we need answers:
What could you receive through the WRCP, litigation or the new mediation process?
How soon could you get paid, and what attorney fees would you pay?
How could current court proceedings and bellwether cases affect payouts and timing?
Come hear directly from the attorneys at the center of the litigation. Bring your toughest questions!
Presenters: Jerry Singleton, Singleton Schreiber; Amanda Riddle, Corey, Luzaich, de Ghetaldi & Riddle LLP
Wednesday, October 28 | 7-9p PT | Special two-hour session
Share with all Eaton Fire survivors. Let’s get the answers we need to make choices that could shape our entire recovery.
Register free:
THURSDAY at 7p: Smoke Damage: Know Your Rights. Understand Your Legal Options.
Your insurer says your home is safe. Or that the smoke damage isn’t covered.
You’re the one who has to live there. How do you know whether they’re right? And what can you do if they’re wrong?
This Thursday, policyholder attorneys will explain your legal options.
If you’re fighting to get your home cleaned, your claim paid and your family safely home, this session is for you.
Presenters: Michelle Meyers, Singleton Schreiber; Ali Moghaddas, Edelson; Kevin Pollak, Abir Cohen Treyzon Salo
Thursday, October 29 | 7-8p PT
Bring your questions. Invite anyone fighting over smoke damage!
Register free:
State Farm Cutting Off Your ALE? L.A. County Needs You!
After CDI failed to act on the more than 500 firsthand accounts of State Farm misconduct we brought them, we took our evidence to L.A. County Supervisor Kathryn Barger. She immediately launched an investigation and then sued State Farm.
The accounts you shared with EFSN are cited throughout the County’s 107-page complaint.
As an important follow-up, if you’re a State Farm policyholder still displaced after the Eaton or Palisades fires and have been denied an ALE extension, or told one will be denied, please contact L.A. County Counsel.
Joe Mellis: JMellis@counsel.lacounty.gov | 213-308-5952
Andrea Ross: ARoss@counsel.lacounty.gov | 323-459-5321
Your experience could help keep you and fellow survivors housed!
And if you’re with another insurer, don’t worry. Many agencies are eagerly awaiting our survey results in November!
SBA Loan Troubles? Decision-Makers Are Here!
SBA has asked us to let you know that its decision-makers (not just case managers) are here to help resolve loan problems on-site. This is the first and last time they will be here during our recovery. Bring your loan information, correspondence and questions!
Palisades: October 26–30 | 9 a.m.–5 p.m. | The Pali Hub | 15239 La Cruz Drive
Altadena: November 2–6 | 9 a.m.–5 p.m. | The Collaboratory | 540 W. Woodbury Road
Homeowners, renters, businesses and nonprofits with SBA disaster loans: take advantage of this!
Underinsured? You May Have a Claim.
Many of us believe that underinsurance is our own fault. But at last week’s Beat the Clock webinar on underinsurance, Insurance Commissioner Emeritus Dave Jones and policyholder attorneys explained a key regulation governing replacement-cost estimates and why your rebuilding shortfall may support a claim against your insurer or broker.
Watch the replay:
https://www.efsurvivors.net/beat-the-clock
No Ballot? Missed Registration? You Can Still Vote!
Ballots do NOT get forwarded with regular mail, so if you didn’t get your ballot in the mail, make a plan now to vote at any L.A. County Vote Center. If you’re not registered to vote, you can register same-day and vote conditionally through Election Day.
Yay, Maryam and the Palisades Recovery Coalition team, for bringing voting to the Palisades!
Palisades Recovery Coalition Flex Vote Center | October 28–29 | 8 a.m.–3 p.m. | 15233 La Cruz Drive
Find all L.A. County voting locations and hours.
Election Day: Tuesday, November 3. Polls close at 8 p.m.
Our rights are precious and hard-earned. But they are of little value if we don’t understand them or use them.
Learn about your Edison legal rights tomorrow (Wed) and your smoke-claim rights Thursday.
Pass this along to someone who needs answers.
And please do your candidate research and go vote this week.
Let’s keep helping each other get home.
Love,
Joy