News Archive

OLYMPIA, Wash. – Sarah Jo Monty, of Kennewick, Wash., pleaded guilty in Benton County Superior Court to one charge of filing a false insurance claim and two counts of attempted second-degree theft in connection with an insurance claim. Monty was sentenced to serve 15 days in jail and to pay $800 in court fines.

Benton County Prosecutor’s Office charged Monty after an investigation by Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler’s Criminal Investigations Unit (CIU).  

According to the investigation, Monty filed a claim with Safeco Insurance in December 2018, stating that she…

OLYMPIA, Wash. – Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler today announced that Michael Wood will serve as the agency’s new chief deputy commissioner. 

Wood joined the office in October 2021 after serving as administrator for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration in Oregon. While there, he oversaw a staff of 200 people who are responsible for workplace safety and health for all workers in Oregon. Before his time in Oregon, Wood worked at the Washington Department of Labor and Industries and the state Legislature. Wood earned a bachelor’s degree in English and political…

OLYMPIA, Wash. – Three people were charged in Yakima County Superior Court with multiple crimes after two investigations by Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler’s Criminal Investigations Unit (CIU).

In the first case, Joseph Calvert was charged with two counts of false claims or proof, two counts of attempted first degree theft, and one count of making a false or misleading statement to a public servant. The charges were made in connection with a home insurance claim in April 2020 and an auto insurance claim in May 2020.

According to the investigation, Calvert filed claims…

OLYMPIA, Wash. – Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler has adopted his rule temporarily banning insurers from using credit information to set auto, homeowner and renter insurance, effective March 4. In addition, he’s proposing a new transparency rule requiring insurers to provide policyholders with a written explanation for any premium change.  

“I’m taking this action against insurers’ use of credit scoring in response to the economic harm many people have experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic—harm that has significantly impacted people who are already financially…