CALIFORNIA IN BRIEF : OAKLAND : 112% Assigned-Risk Rate Hike Barred

A plea by the board of governors of the California Assigned Risk auto plan for an immediate interim rate increase averaging 112.3% for assigned-risk drivers statewide was rejected by an administrative hearing judge for the state Department of Insurance. The judge, Jerry Whitfield, said in Oakland that state law requires hearings before any assigned-risk rates can be raised, and he noted that the hearing process for an identical permanent 112.3% increase requested in February has not yet been completed. Until it is, no such increase can be considered, either interim or permanent, Whitfield said.