Welcome to POA

Archives

Select any state for local news, "National" for national legislation, "State by State" for a breakdown of mold legislation, or visit our Archives.

POA's Presentation at Toxic Mold Bill Hearing
June 3, 2002, Detroit, Michigan

Back To Top Of Page

Senate Republicans Draft Proposal for Federal Terrorism Backstop

WASHINGTON -Insurance advocates are glad to see signs of movement in the form of a recent Senate Republican proposal to get a federal terrorism backstop.

Sens. Phil Gramm, R-Texas, and Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., have made a counteroffer to earlier Senate Democrats' proposals for getting a bill done.

Click Here For Completed Article

Back To Top Of Page

Signatures Gathered for
Toxic Mold Protection Act
in the State of Florida Alone

Petition For "Toxic Mold Protection Act"

Insurers have not self regulated successfully and it is time to impose regulations on insurers regarding prompt and proper repairs in cases of water damage so that toxic mold is prevented from happening. And that insurance coverage to the homeowner's policy is made relevant to the area in which the coverage is given. And premium discounts should be given to consumers because insurance companies are reducing coverage.

Back To Top Of Page

Call To Action:
Deadline May 8, 2002

LEGISLATIVE ALERT: New Bill Promises Protections for American Families

During the last year, a number of state legislators have attempted to introduce and pass meaningful legislation designed to prevent toxic mold infestations in residential and commercial properties. Many of these bills have died on the vine or shelved because of various special interests.

Congressman John Conyers, Jr. (D - Michigan) has taken the lead on the federal level and is ready to introduce federal legislation entitled: United States Toxic Mold Safety & Protection Act. He will introduce this legislation in the 107th Congress and in order to get it passed, he needs our help...

Click Here For Complete Call To Action!

Back To Top Of Page

California Bill Dies. Thank Your Local Insurance Lobbyist.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. 06/27/2002 (BestWire)-A bill that would have forced insurers to cover mold in California is dead--at least for now, a trade group said.

SB 1763, by Sen. Deborah Ortiz, D-Sacramento, would have required insurers to offer mold coverage, plus provide disclosures to consumers. The insurance industry, which had fought the bill, was surprised when Ortiz suddenly dropped it on June 26, said Mark Sektnan, assistant vice president of the American Insurance Association. But Ortiz has pledged to resume her efforts again next year, he said.

"This bill had the potential to jeopardize the entire insurance marketplace in California," Sektnan said in a statement. "This measure would have mandated mold coverage in all liability policies sold in California. The mandate would have impacted all businesses that buy general liability coverage, resulting in higher rates for all California businesses.

"While he is pleased that the bill is dropped for now, Sektnan said the issue is not going away. Insurers are still facing mounting lawsuits and higher water-damage claims, he said.

Several insurers in California have asked to raise their homeowners rates--saying they are seeing a higher number of water-damage claims. Allstate recently won approval for an 18.5% increase, due in part to higher loss costs from water claims (BestWire, May 6, 2002).

State Farm, the state's largest homeowners' writer, recently said it would stop writing new business in the market. State Farm had a 22.1% share of homeowners multiperil coverage in California, according to A.M. Best Co. state/line product information for 2000. Zurich/Farmers held a 19.6% market share, while Allstate had a 15.4% market share.

Back To Top Of Page

POA Weighs In With Amicus Brief: Prompt Pay

STATEMENT OP IDENTITY OF AMICUS CURIAE AND FEE DISCLOSURE STATEMENT

Amicus Curiae is a national, nonprofit organization dedicated to fair treatment of policyholders in the claims process. No fee has been paid for the preparation of this brief.

Click Here For PDF

Back To Top Of Page

Legislator Blames Victim After Testimony Before House Committee On Financial Service

Austin, TX (July 19, 2002) - "At least one US House Member has only the interest of the insurance industry in mind and wouldn't know fraud if it bit him", said Melinda Ballard, President, Policyholders of America, after she testified before a House Subcommittee whose charge is to investigate the growing mold problem plaguing homeowners today...

Click Here For The Complete Article

Back To Top Of Page

Presentation To House Committee On Financial Services
Mold: A Growing Problem
Given By: Melinda Ballard, President, POA

My name is Melinda Ballard and I run an association of homeowners called Policyholders of America or "POA". Since we founded POA six months ago, we have 18,763 American families in our membership - all victims of toxic mold. That number should demonstrate what a crisis the American homeowner is in when it comes to toxic mold...

Click Here For The Complete Article

The Following Are Corrections to Melinda Ballard's Transcript... Click Here For Corrections

Back To Top Of Page

Toxic Mold Bill

Click Here For The Toxic Mold Bill

Link temporarily removed

Back To Top Of Page

Presentation Made By POA (Delivered By Melinda Ballard) At Rep. Conyers' Press Conference (Toxic Mold Bill #5040)
June 27, 2002, Washington, DC

Click Here For Presentation

Back To Top Of Page

Senate Republicans Draft Proposal For Federal Terrorism Backstop

WASHINGTON -Insurance advocates are glad to see signs of movement in the form of a recent Senate Republican proposal to get a federal terrorism backstop.

Sens. Phil Gramm, R-Texas, and Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., have made a counteroffer to earlier Senate Democrats' proposals for getting a bill done.

Click Here For Completed Article

Back To Top Of Page

Pennsylvania Legislation

Click Here For HOUSE RESOLUTION No. 434 Session of 2002

Click Here For SENATE RESOLUTION No. 171 Session of 2002

Back To Top Of Page

Price Gouged Farmers' Policyholders Intervene in TX Settlement. More Restitution Sought.

Click Here For Article: www.texaslawinstitute.com

Follow These Instructions:

Scroll down until, on the right side of the page, you see a heading in red type that reads "Policyholder's Intervention Opposing Approval of Farmers Settlement." Immediately underneath is a PDF of the Plea and Intervention.

Back To Top Of Page

Farmers Settlement Document - Are YOU Getting Any Money Back?

Click Here For Complete Document

Click Here for Intervention - Texas v. Farmers

Click Here for Intervention - Farmers v. Montemayor

Back To Top Of Page

POA Response To Settlement

Click Here For Complete Document

Back To Top Of Page

Texas Homeowners May Win Big In New Suit Filed

Austin, TX (November 6, 2002) . Today, homeowner advocate, Melinda Ballard,
continued her fight on behalf of Texas homeowners by standing up for one of her most
important assets . her reputation. Ballard filed a lawsuit today in Travis County District
Court against Farmers Insurance (.Farmers.) and its paid spokesman for falsely accusing
her of committing insurance fraud in connection with water damage claims filed on her
home in Dripping Springs, Texas. In 2001, Ballard took the insurance giant to task and a
Travis County jury found Farmers engaged in deceptive and misleading conduct and
unconscionable fraudulent acts and practices in connection with its handling of Ballard's
water damage claims.

Click Here For Press Release Click Here For Petition

Back To Top Of Page

POA Weighs In With Amicus Brief: Prompt Pay

Back To Top Of Page

Farmers Deposition

Attached hereto are three pages from a deposition taken about two weeks ago of
a Farmers Insurance adjuster in Texas. Therein, the adjuster admits he (and others) received profit sharing payments in March of2002. All the while, Farmers is claiming they are losing big money in Texas. . .

Click here for PDF

Back To Top Of Page

Homeowners Set Forth Legislative Agenda For Texas Lawmakers

AUSTIN, Texas, Aug. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- "Rate abuse has gotten so out of control in Texas that it has become the hottest issue in this campaign season. Homeowners are up-in-arms, real estate closings are being thwarted, homeowners who have put a claim in are being targeted and punished and all of this has taken its toll on the already unstable Texas economy," said Melinda Ballard, President of Policyholders of America.

Click Here For The Complete Article

Back To Top Of Page

Presentation To Texas Senate Sub-Committee

My name is Melinda Ballard and I run a nonprofit association of homeowners called Policyholders of America or "POA". Since we founded POA six months ago, we have 18,763 American families in our membership. Texas is the state most represented in our membership (approximately 6,500 Texas families are members). That is largely because Texas is where we call home and where rate abuse is most out of control...

Click Here For The Complete Article

Back To Top Of Page

POA's Presentation At Toxic Mold Bill Hearing
June 3, 2002, Detroit, Michigan

Click Here For Presentation

Back To Top Of Page

BIENNIAL REPORT
of the Texas Department of Insurance to the 78th Legislature
December 2002

Back To Top Of Page

Whose side are you on, Mr. President? by Helen Thomas

Back To Top Of Page