This Award Belongs to You
A standing ovation for survivor leadership, major insurance victories, and what comes next.
Dear friends,
What a week.
At EFSN, we're now fighting on three fronts to move billions of dollars in insurance benefits into survivor bank accounts so L.A. families can get home:
Legislation to curb illegal delays and underpayments
Enforcement when insurers break the law. and
Legal education so survivors understand their rights and options.
This week, all three delivered wins.
Let's get into it.
A first-of-its-kind challenge to State Farm
Last Thursday at Pali High, EFSN announced our unprecedented ask for full legal standing in the California Department of Insurance's enforcement proceeding against State Farm.
We’re seeking the right to conduct discovery, cross-examine witnesses, and introduce the more than 1,600 firsthand policyholder statements that you have submitted to EFSN.
We're also seeking a systematic review of State Farm's L.A. claims handling and penalties calibrated to the actual scale of the harm caused.
The stars of the day were survivors Marjan Rajabi and Diane Brigham, who told their stories with honesty, strength, and grace.
Read our petition to intervene.
The response from the media was immediate.
The Los Angeles Times focused on the central question driving our petition: can a $2 million fine meaningfully deter misconduct affecting thousands of families? It quotes our lead pro bono counsel Michelle Meyers:
"I submit to you that doesn't deter bad conduct. It just allows you to continue to do it."
Insurance Business Magazine saw the broader implications:
"A proceeding that could shape how aggressively regulators police claims handling during future climate-driven disasters."
ABC7 put Marjan's story in front of millions of Californians:
"After the fire, dealing with State Farm became a second full-time job."
Pasadena Star-News highlighted Diane's experience:
"It's been a tedious and draining job as we relive the trauma of the things we lost. Meanwhile, State Farm repeatedly urges us to get going on our rebuild. But it's their own convoluted processes that have slowed us down."
The Palisadian-Post captured the symbol of the whole event. We invited State Farm's newly appointed Los Angeles recovery executive, Axel Del Cid, to meet the families whose claims he oversees. He declined.
So we placed an empty chair beside the podium with his name on it.
Representing a company that calls itself a Good Neighbor and no-showed when its customers needed it most.
And Santa Monica Daily Press framed the stakes for all insurance companies:
"If approved, advocates say the decision could establish an important precedent by giving wildfire survivors a formal voice in regulatory enforcement actions while shaping how catastrophe insurance claims are handled throughout California for years to come."
CDI now has 15 days to rule on our petition.
The wins keep coming in Sacramento
Survivors were back in Sacramento last week. The results speak for themselves.
SB 877 (Perez), requiring transparency in loss estimates, and SB 878 (Perez), curbing illegal delays, both passed the Assembly Insurance Committee with bipartisan support.
Both now head to Assembly Appropriations.
Congratulations to Senator Sasha Renée Perez, Consumer Watchdog, DENA Rise Up, and every survivor who testified, traveled, emailed, called, and showed up.
Next up: SB 1301 (Allen), which addresses unfair non-renewals. That vote is this Wednesday.
A powerhouse delegation of Eaton and Palisades survivors and allies is heading to Sacramento tomorrow to make the case. Special thanks to the Pacific Palisades Community Council for rallying support.
What's especially meaningful is that EFSN and Consumer Watchdog built these bills directly from the thousands of insurance challenges you shared over our website.
Learn more and add your name in support: fixinsurance.org
What Session 2 revealed: Your underinsurance may not be your fault
Last Thursday evening, hundreds of survivors joined Session 2 of our underinsurance series.
Former Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones walked us through his landmark 2011 regulation requiring insurers to produce realistic replacement cost estimates. The insurance industry sued. The case went all the way to the California Supreme Court. The industry lost 7-0.
Simple question:
Does your insurance coverage actually account for fully replacing your home?
If not, your underinsurance may not be your fault.
Joining Dave was leading bad-faith attorney Michael Bidart, who explained how these issues are playing out in courtrooms right now.
Many survivors have spent the last 18 months believing they failed to protect their families.
The webinar challenged that belief.
Watch Sessions 1 and 2 on demand.
And if you haven't yet read the Pulitzer Prize-winning investigation into underinsurance in California, read it paywall-free here.
Session 3 is TOMORROW (Wednesday)…
Underinsurance: Legal Strategies Survivors Need to Know
Wednesday, June 24 at 7-8p PT
A free Zoom webinar for all L.A. fire survivors
Michelle Meyers of Singleton Schreiber and Brianna Strange of Strange LLP are actively litigating underinsurance cases right now.
Which law firms are handling underinsurance and bad-faith cases?
During the Session 2 webinar, it became clear that many survivors don't just want information. They want options.
We've begun compiling a list of law firms handling underinsurance and bad-faith cases:efsurvivors.net/los-angeles-fire-insurance-lawyers
EFSN does not endorse any law firms. Corrections and additions are welcome.
Altadena: The fight over density and rebuilding
The Altadena Town Council is hosting an emergency community discussion on SB 1090, rebuilding, density, and next steps. Come learn and help shape the future of Altadena:
In Person:
Wednesday, June 24 at 7-9p
The Collaboratory, 540 W. Woodbury, Altadena
Community Zoom:
Monday, June 29 at 7-9p
Register for the Community Zoom.
Time for a little fun: Rally for Recovery
Saturday August 22 at 8a to 3p
iPickle Arcadia
Friends, we need this.
A day of food, music, laughter, pickleball, and people who truly understand what the last 18 months have been like.
General admission is $25. Kids are free.
Bring the family. Bring friends. Bring the neighbor who helped you through this year.
And if you own a business, or work for a company, we'd love an introduction. Rally for Recovery is a chance for companies to stand with fire survivors when support still matters most.
Register here: rallyus.org
Honoring Survivor Leadership
Also last week, I had the profound honor of receiving the Consumer Watchdog Citizen Advocate of the Year Award at the Rage for Justice Gala alongside Congressman Ro Khanna.
Senator Sasha Renée Pérez presented me with the award.
Carmen, Jamie, Harvey, and Will of Consumer Watchdog, who have become my closest partners and dearest friends through this fight, were all there.
L.A. fire survivors are not waiting to be rescued. We’re civic leaders, leading the way forward for our own recovery and a better tomorrow for every Californian.
I accept this on behalf of each and every one of you.
This award belongs to our entire community.
My speech was 13 minutes and received a standing ovation. It is for you, about you, and would not exist without you.
Watch the speech: https://youtu.be/GpyYXEbE1qU
Congratulations also to Sue Kohl, President of the Pacific Palisades Community Council, who was recognized by Councilmember Traci Park as “truly an angel in the City of Angels.” We are so proud of her.
And congratulations to EFRU and EFSN for receiving community leadership awards from the 250 nonprofit members of the Eaton Fire Collaborative.
How We Move the Money
As our nation's birthday approaches, I'm reminded that democracy isn't something we celebrate once a year.
It's something we build.
That's what EFSN survivors have been doing for the last 18 months.
Eighteen months ago, most of us had never testified before a legislative committee, filed a regulatory petition, spoken to reporters, or collected evidence.
Today, survivors are helping shape legislation, hold insurers accountable, educate one another about our rights, and move billions of dollars closer to the families who need them.
Every $1 invested in EFSN has helped unlock more than $1,000 deposited directly into survivor bank accounts. Few philanthropic investments offer this kind of leverage.
Grateful thanks to the hundreds of you who have supported this work. This progress belongs to all of us. Everything we have accomplished, we have accomplished together. If you'd like to fuel this work, your donation is fully tax-deductible.
Donate: efsurvivors.net/donate
DAF and stock gifts: efsurvivors.net/donate#daf
With the kids out of school, I leave tomorrow for a long-awaited family reunion, followed by a family wedding. I'll be back after the July 4 weekend.
The last 18 months have taught us all that our time here is precious, as is our time with the people we love.
I hope that you find some time this summer to rest, recharge, and reconnect.
Love,
Joy
The Every Fire Survivor's Network (EFSN) connects 10,000+ fire survivors and allies across Eaton, Palisades, Malibu, and Topanga. Together, we remove barriers and help families get home. Join us: efsurvivors.net
