Latest news with #AllstateInsurance
Miami Herald
11-06-2025
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
Iconic ‘leave the light on' spokesman sues Motel 6 for shocking reason
There aren't many commercial voices you can hear and immediately recognize. When you hear Dennis Haysbert's baritone voice say offscreen, "You're in good hands," it lets you know you're watching an Allstate Insurance commercial before the logo shows up at the end. Related: Tesla's biggest rival slashes prices but faces major pushback Speaking of baritone, the late, great James Earl Jones wasn't just the voice of Mufasa and Darth Vader; he was also the voice of Allstate Insurance, along with CNN and Verizon. Other voices you might know from movies and television, but you'd never guess they're spokesvoices for your favorite consumer brands. For example, you probably don't recognize the voice telling you to stuff your fries in a McDonald's Quarter Pounder before stuffing the burger in your face as Brian Cox from "Succession." Still, it's hard to disobey his trademark delivery. Tom Bodett is one of the few commercial voice actors whose voice you can immediately match to his name. But a new lawsuit alleges he hasn't been compensated fairly. Image source: PortlandThis week, Tom Bodett, the legendary voice behind Motel 6 and its "We'll leave the light on for you" radio and television advertising campaign, sued the company for using his name and voice without his permission. Bodett says he cut ties with Motel 6 after the company missed a $1.2 million annual payment due on January 7, per their contract. Despite the breakup, the 70-year-old Bodett says Motel 6 and its new owner, India-based OYO, have been using the spots anyway, violating rights protected by federal trademark law. He says he's tried negotiating a confidential settlement that would recognize his role in helping build the company over the past 40 years, but the company has responded with "misrepresentations, obfuscations, and delay tactics." Motel 6 told Reuters, "We appreciate Mr. Bodett's contributions over the past years. Of course, we will continue to advertise, keeping the lights on for you." But the company's statement to TheStreet showed more promise in a resolution being reached. Bodett, who started doing Motel 6 commercials in 1986, says he coined his iconic catch phrase as an ad lib. "The brand's advertising campaign, featuring on-air personality Tom Bodett, began in 1986 and proved an instant success for Motel 6, turning the chain into a household name and winning industry awards," states the Motel 6 website. "The campaign has won more advertising awards than any other brand in the lodging industry, which is understandable, given that Motel 6 has the highest advertising recognition factor in the economy lodging category." Bodett's lawsuit seeks the annual payment, additional unspecified damages, and a share of profits. Some social media netizens backed him online June 10. "Tom Bodett, decades-long spokesman for Motel 6's success, is now suing the new ownership. They stopped paying him. They kept using his name and voice. He didn't want to work for them if they didn't want him anymore. But they kept delaying the negotiations. PAY THE MAN!" one user said. The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Here's how a new law will fight catalytic converter thefts in Washington
Leaders in Washington want to keep criminals from stealing your car's catalytic converter. Starting April 1, a new bill will strengthen protections and fine people who don't play by the rules. Under House Bill 2153: Vehicle dealers will be required to mark catalytic converters so that when law enforcement comes across a stolen one, they can track it back to the source. Purchasers will be required to record who they purchase catalytic converters from and the vehicle identification number (VIN) from which it was removed. These records must be retained for three years. Purchasers must be licensed, regulated, and inspected. They will be fined at least $1,000 per violation. The licensing process will include a new $500 fee, which goes directly to the Washington State Patrol to fund inspections and enforcement. Anyone who knowingly and unlawfully traffics detached catalytic converters will face up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine. Currently, when a catalytic converter is detached from a vehicle, police have no reliable way to trace it back to a specific vehicle. A catalytic converter is a metal cylinder that cleans a car's exhaust, making the air safer to breathe. People steal them to sell off what's inside. Often, there's platinum and palladium, worth more than $1,000 an ounce, and rhodium, worth almost $5,000 per ounce. They're also easy to steal. Someone can climb under a car and dismantle it in about 30 seconds. King County Prosecuting Attorney Leesa Manion hopes this new bill will curb catalytic converter thefts. 'For the first time, law enforcement and prosecutors will have the tools we need to hold people accountable for trafficking in stolen catalytic converters,' said Manion. 'That's a win for King County and for Washington State, and I am grateful to the partnership from the bill's prime sponsor, Rep. Cindy Ryu, and for the strong backing from the Washington legislature. If someone steals your catalytic converter, here is what Allstate Insurance says you'll notice: When you start your car, it will be loud because the thieves will have cut your exhaust pipe to steal it, which means the exhaust won't be channeled through the muffler. Your 'check engine' light will also come on, and you may smell exhaust fumes. If this happens, don't drive the car. Report the theft to the police and your car insurance company.
Yahoo
14-02-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Allstate slammed with lawsuit after scheme to spy on millions of Americans is uncovered: 'Without their knowledge or consent'
Allstate Insurance and its subsidiary Arity are being sued for collecting, using, and selling over 45 million Americans' driving data to insurance companies without consent, according to Malwarebytes. This case comes amid a tumultuous year for insurance companies, mainly on the home insurance front, as many have recently come under fire for dropping coverage ahead of major weather disasters. Allstate partnered with app developers such as Life360 to covertly gather driving data from users and then use that driving data as justification for raising rates. In addition to using the data for their customers, Allstate has also sold data to other insurance companies so they can raise rates as well. This scheme is being called the "world's largest driving behavior database." Do you worry about companies having too much of your personal data? Absolutely Sometimes Not really I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. "Our investigation revealed that Allstate and Arity paid mobile apps millions of dollars to install Allstate's tracking software," Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said. "The personal data of millions of Americans was sold to insurance companies without their knowledge or consent in violation of the law. Texans deserve better, and we will hold all these companies accountable." General Motors and other car manufacturers are under investigation for similar breaches. Allstate is being accused of purchasing that data from manufacturers as well, including Toyota, Lexus, Mazda, Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat, Jeep, Maserati, and Ram. While there are clear dollar-and-cents consequences of inadvertently sharing location in instances like this, there are bigger risks if those wheeling and dealing in data don't do so securely. Bad actors who gain illicit access to location data can engage in stalking and identity theft. Most uses of location data range from benign advertising to beneficial emergency services. The crux of the issue is consent. End users need to know what they're getting by providing their location data to an organization. Allstate is being sued under the Texas Data Privacy and Security Act. Some states have more robust data privacy laws than others, and they can all be tracked here. Robust federal action is also being taken against location data brokers. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
CNN
06-02-2025
- Business
- CNN
Allstate expects $1.1 billion loss from California fires
Allstate Insurance says it will pay out $1.1 billion in claims caused by the wildfires that swept through Southern California in January. While the expected payout is significant, Allstate said Wednesday it was able to limit its losses partly by pulling back from the California market. Many insurers, including Allstate, have been canceling homeowners' policies in many areas of California due to growing threat of wildfires — leaving many homeowners with more expensive and often limited alternatives, or with no insurance coverage at all. Allstate's liability is a small fraction of the total insurance claims from the California fires in January: They are expected to come from 16,600 properties and forecast to cost the industry between $35 billion to $45 billion, according to CoreLogic, a research firm that tracks the costs of catastrophes like fires and hurricanes. The company announced the claims figure alongside its fourth-quarter earnings report late Wednesday, though the fires occurred in the first quarter and were not part of those financial results. Allstate recorded $2.1 billion in profit for the fourth quarter, which was up 34% from a year earlier and brought adjusted profit for 2024 to $4.9 billion. That growth came despite catastrophe claims losses of $315 million related to Hurricane Milton in the fourth quarter, and re-estimates for the cost of Hurricane Helene in September. Homeowners throughout California will likely see their homeowners insurance premiums climb in the wake of the fire. Earlier this week State Farm, California's largest insurance provider, requested an emergency interim rate hike averaging 22% for homeowners citing a 'dire' financial situation from the fires. State Farm has received more than 8,700 claims and paid over $1 billion to customers, a number that the company knows will rise, it said in a filing with state insurance regulators. In addition, insurers can now use costs associated with the fires as justification for rate increase requests. For example, the California FAIR plan — the state-created insurer of last resort for homeowners unable to get fire insurance from traditional insurers — is expected to have claims far in excess of its assets. To pay those claims, it will be able to levy an assessment on the state's other insurers. Insurers will now be able to factor in the cost of that California FAIR assessment when seeking rate increases across the state. They also will be able to use the cost of reinsurance, a form of coverage they purchase to backstop their losses, as part of the rate calculations in the state. In the past, the amount insurers paid for reinsurance did not go into rate calculations.
CNN
06-02-2025
- Business
- CNN
Allstate expects $1.1 billion loss from California fires
Allstate Insurance says it will pay out $1.1 billion in claims caused by the wildfires that swept through Southern California in January. While the expected payout is significant, Allstate said Wednesday it was able to limit its losses partly by pulling back from the California market. Many insurers, including Allstate, have been canceling homeowners' policies in many areas of California due to growing threat of wildfires — leaving many homeowners with more expensive and often limited alternatives, or with no insurance coverage at all. Allstate's liability is a small fraction of the total insurance claims from the California fires in January: They are expected to come from 16,600 properties and forecast to cost the industry between $35 billion to $45 billion, according to CoreLogic, a research firm that tracks the costs of catastrophes like fires and hurricanes. The company announced the claims figure alongside its fourth-quarter earnings report late Wednesday, though the fires occurred in the first quarter and were not part of those financial results. Allstate recorded $2.1 billion in profit for the fourth quarter, which was up 34% from a year earlier and brought adjusted profit for 2024 to $4.9 billion. That growth came despite catastrophe claims losses of $315 million related to Hurricane Milton in the fourth quarter, and re-estimates for the cost of Hurricane Helene in September. Homeowners throughout California will likely see their homeowners insurance premiums climb in the wake of the fire. Earlier this week State Farm, California's largest insurance provider, requested an emergency interim rate hike averaging 22% for homeowners citing a 'dire' financial situation from the fires. State Farm has received more than 8,700 claims and paid over $1 billion to customers, a number that the company knows will rise, it said in a filing with state insurance regulators. In addition, insurers can now use costs associated with the fires as justification for rate increase requests. For example, the California FAIR plan — the state-created insurer of last resort for homeowners unable to get fire insurance from traditional insurers — is expected to have claims far in excess of its assets. To pay those claims, it will be able to levy an assessment on the state's other insurers. Insurers will now be able to factor in the cost of that California FAIR assessment when seeking rate increases across the state. They also will be able to use the cost of reinsurance, a form of coverage they purchase to backstop their losses, as part of the rate calculations in the state. In the past, the amount insurers paid for reinsurance did not go into rate calculations.
