Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Kamala Harris & Mike Ramos-hmmm
Star studded transition team one would think for Kamala Harris until coming up on Mikey--a quick look at one of the blogs tracking Mikey would show in the months leading up to December's nod by the new top cop, Mikey was in trouble. Interesting on how violations of campaign finance laws appears ok with our new AG?? I wonder what will happen when the Ristow affidavits eventually get Wikileaked? Interesting stuff and alignments politics makes. Is it true that when Guttierrez's trial counsel became seriously ill, the DA/AG team refused to give the attorney time to seek treatment? Nothing like setting up an ineffective assistance of counsel scenario and retrial! I truly hope that Harris was not sucker punched by Mikey's charm, that this is a tactic of keeping your friends close and your enemies closer or just maybe Mikey is not such a bad guy (I stumbled and chocked when I typed the latter).
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
District Attorney alleges accountant coerced by Executive Office officials:The Valley News
Riverside's ex-DA had his issues--this shows the danger of a politically driven DA's office (money will do that). Interesting read--
District Attorney alleges accountant coerced by Executive Office officials :: The Valley News
By the way: I offered to help Ramos in San Bernardino County put caps on funds that can be raised for offices like the DA's office in writing in several newspapers and this blog--so far no calls or interest expressed. Sounds like more campaign fodder! Too bad, we really need to take money out of the DA's & Assessor-Treasurer office races.
District Attorney alleges accountant coerced by Executive Office officials :: The Valley News
By the way: I offered to help Ramos in San Bernardino County put caps on funds that can be raised for offices like the DA's office in writing in several newspapers and this blog--so far no calls or interest expressed. Sounds like more campaign fodder! Too bad, we really need to take money out of the DA's & Assessor-Treasurer office races.
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Mortgage Servicers Predatory Conduct - Is Mike Ramos Asleep at the switch??
Abuses by "mortgage servicers", which are the companies that collect the mortgage payments, impose late fees, negotiate loan modifications and initiate foreclosures, are rampant.
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Around the nation (and our county) the stories are, and point to a pattern of behavior by servicers that is out-and-out illegal.
.
Sheila Blair, the head of the FDIC, and other federal regulators are pushing to get mortgage servicing standards written into risk retention guidelines set to be released in the near future.
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One of the most frustrating parts of the financial reform game is how powerless most of us really are, most of the time, especially when the prosecutorial agencies are ignoring the millions of dollar in injury to pursue small time political figure abuses.
.
What is sad, is that County prosecutors like Mike Ramos in San Bernardino County have NOT protected consumers under existing California law [e.g.California Business & Profession Code § 17200 et seq]. That entire section of the California Business & Profession Code prohibits false, deceptive and unfair trade practices and gives the prosecutor the power to seek an injunction to stop the abuses. While there are "special units" at the San Bernardino County DA's office and at the Attorney General's office, this issue is not even being touched (instead they are focusing on alleged fraud in the lending process)--the result, consumers are paying fines and penalties they don't owe, some are being dragged into foreclosure processes and in some instances not just losing their homes, but having their credit ruined for years to come, costing them more money to buy household appliances, cars and needed consumer purchases.
.
Support Blair's effort to tell the government it's time to rein in mortgage servicers is a given, but call and demand your AG (attorney general) and the DA's office (Mike Ramos) start investigating the mortgage services for unfair, deceptive and or fraudulent conduct (like charging penalties not authorized in the contract signed by the consumer, being harassed by collector calls for mortgage payments not yet owed or for fees/penalties incorrectly calculated, refusing to meet and in good faith do work outs the consumers are entitled to be considered for under other state laws, being forced out of their homes by companies not authorized to do business in California--to name a few).
.
P.S. For more info a good article to look at: huffingtonpost.com/2010/12/21/mortgage-crisis_n_799593.html
.
Around the nation (and our county) the stories are, and point to a pattern of behavior by servicers that is out-and-out illegal.
.
Sheila Blair, the head of the FDIC, and other federal regulators are pushing to get mortgage servicing standards written into risk retention guidelines set to be released in the near future.
.
One of the most frustrating parts of the financial reform game is how powerless most of us really are, most of the time, especially when the prosecutorial agencies are ignoring the millions of dollar in injury to pursue small time political figure abuses.
.
What is sad, is that County prosecutors like Mike Ramos in San Bernardino County have NOT protected consumers under existing California law [e.g.California Business & Profession Code § 17200 et seq]. That entire section of the California Business & Profession Code prohibits false, deceptive and unfair trade practices and gives the prosecutor the power to seek an injunction to stop the abuses. While there are "special units" at the San Bernardino County DA's office and at the Attorney General's office, this issue is not even being touched (instead they are focusing on alleged fraud in the lending process)--the result, consumers are paying fines and penalties they don't owe, some are being dragged into foreclosure processes and in some instances not just losing their homes, but having their credit ruined for years to come, costing them more money to buy household appliances, cars and needed consumer purchases.
.
Support Blair's effort to tell the government it's time to rein in mortgage servicers is a given, but call and demand your AG (attorney general) and the DA's office (Mike Ramos) start investigating the mortgage services for unfair, deceptive and or fraudulent conduct (like charging penalties not authorized in the contract signed by the consumer, being harassed by collector calls for mortgage payments not yet owed or for fees/penalties incorrectly calculated, refusing to meet and in good faith do work outs the consumers are entitled to be considered for under other state laws, being forced out of their homes by companies not authorized to do business in California--to name a few).
.
P.S. For more info a good article to look at: huffingtonpost.com/2010/12/21/mortgage-crisis_n_799593.html
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
HMO Trying to Balance Bill You for an Emergency Room Visit--its illegal!!
Part of a continuing use of this blog to educate citizens about rights they have.
One of the crimes being committed on consumers who are lucky enough to have insurance coverage is the "balance billing" game (where you have a medical bill from an ER room visit, your HMO pays a portion of the bill which the hospital does not like and the hospital balance bills you for the gap between what your HMO paid and the hospital's original billing).
General rule: The hospital cannot balance bill emergency room charges unless the contract with the health plan specifically allows it.See Parnell v Adventist Health (2005)35 Cal.4th 595 & Prospect Medical Group, Inc. v Northridge Emergency Group(2009)45 Cal.4th 497 [opinion at http://www.lifehealthdisabilityinsurancelaw.com/uploads/file/S142209%20Prospect%20v%20Northridge%281%29.pdf] See also http://www.abanet.org/health/esource/Volume5/06/Lai.html
From an old letter (which is only a basic model; you should consult with counsel to get the language and issues all included/addressed that should be and then send the letter via certified mail return receipt requested):
Since my last letter, as I am sure you know, the California Department of Managed Health has implemented regulations that expressly prohibit the type of balance billing you are attempting in the above referenced matter. I have attached a copy of the regulation, and the press release from DMHC director, Cindy Ehens, announcing this new rule.
As you are no doubt aware, the California Supreme Court recently issued its decision in Prospect Medical Group, Inc. v Northridge Emergency Group(2009)45 Cal.4th 497. In Prospect the court clearly held that hospitals may not balance bill bill a patient when the patient's HMO pays less than the hospital is willing to accept for emergency treatment rendered to patients of an HMO, with which the hospital did not have a contract.
FYI: The documents to attach to this letter are available from the California Department of Managed Health.
One of the crimes being committed on consumers who are lucky enough to have insurance coverage is the "balance billing" game (where you have a medical bill from an ER room visit, your HMO pays a portion of the bill which the hospital does not like and the hospital balance bills you for the gap between what your HMO paid and the hospital's original billing).
General rule: The hospital cannot balance bill emergency room charges unless the contract with the health plan specifically allows it.See Parnell v Adventist Health (2005)35 Cal.4th 595 & Prospect Medical Group, Inc. v Northridge Emergency Group(2009)45 Cal.4th 497 [opinion at http://www.lifehealthdisabilityinsurancelaw.com/uploads/file/S142209%20Prospect%20v%20Northridge%281%29.pdf] See also http://www.abanet.org/health/esource/Volume5/06/Lai.html
From an old letter (which is only a basic model; you should consult with counsel to get the language and issues all included/addressed that should be and then send the letter via certified mail return receipt requested):
Since my last letter, as I am sure you know, the California Department of Managed Health has implemented regulations that expressly prohibit the type of balance billing you are attempting in the above referenced matter. I have attached a copy of the regulation, and the press release from DMHC director, Cindy Ehens, announcing this new rule.
As you are no doubt aware, the California Supreme Court recently issued its decision in Prospect Medical Group, Inc. v Northridge Emergency Group(2009)45 Cal.4th 497. In Prospect the court clearly held that hospitals may not balance bill bill a patient when the patient's HMO pays less than the hospital is willing to accept for emergency treatment rendered to patients of an HMO, with which the hospital did not have a contract.
FYI: The documents to attach to this letter are available from the California Department of Managed Health.
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Friday, December 3, 2010
District Attorney Mike Ramos Announces Endorsements--use it as a check off list for the ongoing investigations
Remember this cast of characters in the coming months:
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District Attorney Mike Ramos Announces Endorsements
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District Attorney Mike Ramos Announces Endorsements
RAMOS' $2,500 FINE AGREED TO BY THE FPPC IGNORES THE BIGGER STORY OF PERSONAL USE OF CAMPAIGN FUNDS?
In Natasha Lindstrom's article "SB County DA fails to properly disclose credit card charges" $8,619.00 was charged for
(1) Embassy Suites
(2) US Airways
(3) JW Marriott Hotel
(4) Oak Quarry Golf Club (green fees??)
(5) Institute for Advancement of Criminal Justice (continuing education??)
(6) Regency Hotel
(7) Tartan Restaurant of Redlands
(8) Double Tree Hotel
(9) Farm Artisan Foods
.....
First, wasn't Ramos unopposed at this financial reporting period (from 7/1/2009 through 12/31/09) so why is he taking trips, going to golf courses and multiple hotels on campaign funds?
Second, what does a seminar for his "education" on criminal justice have to do with running for office?
Third, were these hotel expenses for night stays or for conference rooms for fund raising ?(were they single occupancy?);
Fourth, US Airways to where? for what?
..
As is always the case with Ramos--more questions than answers and the media absolutely avoiding the obvious questions that they should be demanding answers to!
(1) Embassy Suites
(2) US Airways
(3) JW Marriott Hotel
(4) Oak Quarry Golf Club (green fees??)
(5) Institute for Advancement of Criminal Justice (continuing education??)
(6) Regency Hotel
(7) Tartan Restaurant of Redlands
(8) Double Tree Hotel
(9) Farm Artisan Foods
.....
First, wasn't Ramos unopposed at this financial reporting period (from 7/1/2009 through 12/31/09) so why is he taking trips, going to golf courses and multiple hotels on campaign funds?
Second, what does a seminar for his "education" on criminal justice have to do with running for office?
Third, were these hotel expenses for night stays or for conference rooms for fund raising ?(were they single occupancy?);
Fourth, US Airways to where? for what?
..
As is always the case with Ramos--more questions than answers and the media absolutely avoiding the obvious questions that they should be demanding answers to!
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