Phoenix Business Group e-mail: consumer@consumer-protection.com telephone: 1-800-TRUSTEE address: 1275 Fourth Street Santa Rosa, CA 95404   John Metz  e-mail: jmetz@consumer-protection.com As a prime participant on the Task Force established to help draft the California Unfair Claims Practices Regulations that govern claims practices in the largest insurance market in the U.S. and As Chairman of the non-profit California Consumer Health Care Council, which advocates on behalf of health care insurance consumers in all available forums and As President of Phoenix Construction Company, having been involved with, reviewed, analyzed, prepared estimates for or been responsible for the repair of thousands of damaged properties in which insurance was an issue and As President of the Phoenix Business Group, a Consumer Advocacy Services Company, Mr. Metz brings a unique blend of understanding and experience to the evaluation and analysis of property, casualty and health care insurance claims handling and practices. "I base my expert consulting and testimony on the principle that consumers have a right to obtain all insurance benefits they were promised, including a prompt, fair, equitable claims process – no more, but no less!"   Areas in which Mr. Metz will act as a consultant and provide expert witness testimony: Insurance - Bad Faith, Claims & Liability, Claims Litigation, Health / Life / Disability Claims, Property / Casualty, Standard of Care, and Unfair Claims Practices   Mr. Metz' Background Founder, in 1979, and President of Phoenix Business Group ("PBG"), a Consumer Protection and Advocacy Services Company. Founding Director and, currently, Chairman of the Board of the California Consumer Health Care Council, a 501(c)(3) non-profit public benefit corporation, which advocates on behalf of health care consumers as individuals and a class. Principal drafter of insurance and health care consumer protection legislation that has appeared on the California ballot. Since 1970, President of Phoenix Construction Company, which for years specialized in doing insurance / damage repair work. California licensed General Contractor and Real Estate Agent. A developer and builder of residential and commercial real estate projects. In the course of his career, Mr. Metz has been involved with, reviewed, analyzed, prepared estimates for or been responsible for the repair of thousands of damaged properties in which insurance was an issue, including many arising out of the Northridge and subsequent Southern California earthquakes. In 1991, he was appointed, by the California Insurance Commissioner, to the Unfair Claims Practices Task Force and has participated in the drafting of both the original and all subsequent amendments to the Fair Claims Settlement Practices Regulations (California Code of Regulations, Title 10, Chapter 5, Subchapter 7.5, Section 2695 et seq.) that currently govern the claims practices of most insurers in California. Since 1995, Mr. Metz has worked with the California Department of Insurance on issues affecting consumer rights, including the application of the 12-month time to sue provision and Insurance Code violations by insurers arising out of the Northridge and subsequent Southern California Earthquakes. In 1997 and 1999, the California Insurance Commissioner issued Findings that Mr. Metz has worked for many years as an advocate representing the interests of consumers. He has testified or provided input, on behalf of consumers, on consumer, insurance and health care related matters being considered by, among others, the California Department of Insurance, California Appellate Courts, California Supreme Court, California State Assembly, California State Senate, Office of the Consumer Advocate of the City of New York, and Government agencies in Mississippi and Texas. Mr. Metz is the former Chairman of the Committee for HMO / Health Insurer Honesty & Accountability He served on the State Advocacy Committee of the American Diabetes Association. Mr. Metz is Past President of the Occidental Chamber of Commerce. He has been retained as an expert consultant and witness in matters relating to insurance, real property, construction, health care and claims practices. e-mail: jmetz@consumer-protection.com telephone: 1-800-TRUSTEE address: 1275 Fourth Street Santa Rosa, CA 95404 Back to the Home page. Copyright © Phoenix Business Group, 1998, 1999. All rights reserved. Important, please read DISCLAIMER