Quake Group Critical of Quackenbush : Politics: Insurance commissioner-elect draws fire for ties to industry, is pressed to probe treatment of policyholders.

SHERMAN OAKS — A Northridge-based group, formed to help homeowners settle earthquake insurance claims, criticized newly elected state Insurance Commissioner Charles Quackenbush on Monday for relying on a transition team composed almost entirely of insurance-industry representatives.

The group--called Community Assisting Recovery (CARe)--also asked that Commissioner-elect Quackenbush investigate the treatment of earthquake policy-holders by insurance firms following the Jan. 17 disaster.

“We want Mr. Quackenbush to live up to his promises. . . . We want to make sure he does not ignore the consumer to the benefit of the industry,” George Kehrer, executive director of CARe, said at a news conference in one of the hardest-hit areas, south of Ventura Boulevard.

“The real issue out there is the adjusters who are not addressing the asbestos problems, who are not addressing foundation problems, who are ignoring slab problems,” Kehrer said. “When adjusters know that slabs get cracked by earthquakes and then don’t tell a homeowner to lift up the carpet to see what kind of cracks they have in the slab, that to me is an insurance fraud.”

Quackenbush could not be reached for comment.

His spokesman, Greg Butler, denied that the new commissioner is consulting exclusively with industry officials, adding that if homeowners are having problems with insurance settlements they should complain to Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi, who is in office until the end of the year.

“We haven’t even taken office yet,” Butler said in a telephone interview from Sacramento. “But we have been very clear that where there is a problem with an insurance company . . . we will make sure that problem is corrected.”

Joining Kehrer at the news conference was Ina De Long, president of United Policyholders Inc., an Oakland-based nonprofit insurance consumer group, and state Sen. Tom Hayden (D-Los Angeles), whose district includes Sherman Oaks and West Los Angeles.

Hayden said he plans to introduce legislation to help address some of the problems homeowners are having with insurance companies and banks regarding their quake-damaged properties.

“You can expect the Senate to hold tough hearings and take a tough response,” he said. “We should put Mr. Quackenbush and the industry on notice that they can win an election, but they still have a problem to solve.”

CARe will hold a free workshop today from 3 to 9 p.m. at the FEMA center in Chatsworth, 20525 Nordhoff St. Attorneys will be available to review homeowner policies and give advice.