Jairon Escobar, owner and operator of Radiator & Body Parts in San Jose, was charged with jacking up an insurance damage estimate on a “newly purchased” bait car with a single dent to include thousands in damages that did not exist. 

The state’s landlords see rising insurance costs, so they say they’re going to have to raise rents. But they complain about laws that limit how much they can do so.

A proposal to fix California’s insurance crisis would require the insurance department to process requests from insurers more quickly. But that could end with a lot of rate increases for consumers.

A father and son who are the owners of two commercial cleaning companies in San Jose were arrested this week after state officials allege they underreported $12 million in payroll to save on paying workers compensation insurance. Edgardo Cabrales Sr., 61, and his son, Edgar Cabrales Jr., 36, are charged with five felony counts each of insurance fraud, following an investigation by the California Department of Insurance. The investigation into the Cabrales' companies, Pine Building Maintenance and Network Facility Management, began after officials suspected the businesses of fraud.

New rules proposed by California’s Department of Insurance would require insurers to take homeowners’ efforts to reduce wildfire risk into account when setting premiums. But they would still allow non-renewals.

Investigators are still trying to determine the extent of the fraud and encouraging victims to come forward. 

Cal Fire announced new evacuation orders for the eastern edge of Santa Clara County, where the SCU Complex keeps growing.

Robert Foster allegedly used his private security firm to commit fraud, evade taxes, steal wages and launder about $18 million.

All told, Tyler and Kim Chen attempted to claim nearly $5.7 million in damages, of which $4 million was paid out by five insurance companies.