January 2025 Wildfire Victims Seek Tougher Penalties Against State Farm Over Claims Handling
Michelle Meyers, Partner at Singleton Schreiber, was featured by the Los Angeles Times in an article titled "January 2025 Wildfire Victims Seek Tougher Penalties Against State Farm Over Claims Handling," published on June 18, 2026.
Meyers serves as attorney for the Every Fire Survivors Network, a wildfire survivor coalition petitioning to join the California Department of Insurance's enforcement action against State Farm. The group is seeking a systematic review of all State Farm claims, increased penalties, reopened underpaid cases, and direct participation in settlement discussions.
The state's market conduct exam identified 398 alleged violations across 220 sample claims, including failures to investigate thoroughly, delays in settlement, and unreasonably low offers. The survivor group argues the $2 million penalty proposed against California's largest home insurer is insufficient to deter future misconduct at scale.
"I submit to you that doesn't deter bad conduct, it just allows you to continue to do it," Meyers said.
