Former
Insurance Commissioner's action ruled legal and proper
In an
unnoticed court decision out of Los Angeles, the Northridge
earthquake
settlements negotiated with several insurance companies by former
Insurance
Commissioner and Rio Linda resident Chuck Quackenbush have been ruled
as
completely legal and proper in all respects. The settlements, subject
of
intense controversy and examination by State legislative committees in
2000,
had been taken to court by the Attorney General's office in an effort
to
overturn them. The Attorney General asserted that the settlements did
not
fulfill the purposes of the Department of Insurance.
Judge Victoria Chaney of the Los Angeles Superior Court questioned in
the
decision how the Attorney General could attack these creative
settlements
when the Attorney General had openly boasted on his own website of
similar
negotiated settlements he had reached with other companies. The judge
also
noted approvingly that the terms of the Quackenbush settlements
required
companies to conduct internal audits of Northridge claims handling, do
telephone
surveys of earthquake damage claimants and reopen claims of
dissatisfied
customers. The decision rhetorically asked what more could possibly be
done
eight years after the Northridge earthquake to help the public with
claims
for damages arising from the earthquake then what was contained in the
terms
of these settlements.
Earlier this year, a joint task force of federal, state and county
investigators
charged with examining all the activities of the Department of
Insurance
announced they were disbanding as no evidence of illegal activity could
be
found and there would be no charges filed against Quackenbush or
anybody
else from his administration. George Grays, a former deputy
Commissioner
at the Department of Insurance who was involved with private charitable
foundations
set up as part of the settlements has pleaded guilty in federal court
to
receiving illegal kickbacks and is awaiting sentencing.
After two years of controversy and legal wrangling, it appears that the
issue
is now at an end. Since former Commissioner Quackenbush did nothing
illegal
or improper as validated by the courts, what was all the fuss about
during
those contentious hearings in 2000?
The Spirit
of the community
by Norma-Lee
He came from Alabama but he didn't have a banjo on his knee! Born April
26, 1940, in Dotham, Alabama, an only child to Auby Forehand and Pencie
Branton Forehand, Bobby Joe has become the embodiment of the spirit of
Rio Linda. Whether helping to clean up the creeks or delivering
Christmas food baskets to the needy, he can always be found working to
better his community.
Bobby Joe attended three schools and graduated from Cottonwood High in
Cottonwood, AL in 1958, after which he enlisted in the Army. Although
he did serve during the Viet Nam era at the Signal Depot in Sacramento,
he was honorably discharged before actually being shipped out. He went
back to Alabama but after seven months, he found the economy there too
slow so he returned to the better opportunities offered in California.
Managing transmission shops in Fresno, Stockton, and Sacramento, Bobby
Joe gained the experience that, in 1990 helped him to form a
partnership with Sunny Kral and Bob Herr. Together they own Shift
Management, Inc., a commercial transmission rebuilding facility. They
also sponsor the SMI super gas class dragster that, last year won first
place in Division 7 and placed tenth in the nation.
Bobby. Joe and Claudia Braninburg (an avid fan of horseback riding
despite several mishaps) were married on August 10, 1967, and in
addition to his children Catherine and Robert from a previous marriage,
he became stepfather to Billy Jack, John, and David. Having children
began his involvement with the community first as a member of the Rio
Linda Boosters Club from 1969 through 1972. He also managed two
softball teams for Standard Transmission from 1972 to 1973. The men's
team was the "N.A.W. Beavers" and the women's team was called "Bob's
Devils".
Bobby Joe joined the Elkhorn Chapter 2060 Moose Lodge in 1986 and has
served several terms as Trustee, Prelate, and Mascot. He was nominated
for International Moose of the Year 1997 and was awarded a Certificate
of Recognition by the Women of the Moose Chapter 2062 for his ongoing
support of their charities in March 2000. He became a Moose Legion
member in 1996 for sponsoring 10 new candidates and he earned his
Degree of Fellowship in 1999. He is also a member of the American
Legion.
His
community spirit is continually demonstrated through his volunteer work
and his willingness to participate wherever asked or needed. In
addition to helping clean up the creeks, Bobby Joe has served as a
Judge at the River Valley Feed Store animal show, helps each year with
the "Ruby Wilson Annual Food Basket" program both picking up the food
from the local schools and delivering the baskets, and playing the
"Clown" for children at Moose family functions. As a Moose fund raiser,
he will be joining with other Moose members to help clean up and store
voting machines after this year's election.
He earned the title of Honorary Mayor of Rio Linda/Elverta this year by
raising the most money for the Chamber of Commerce and his sponsor, the
Elkhorn Moose Lodge. One of his latest duties as Mayor was to serve as
Principal for a Day at Rio Linda Elementary, School; a duty which he
very much enjoyed.
Bobby Joe has very strong ties to his family and community and he is
excited about the new Moose Family Center that will be opening soon at
6003 Rio Linda Blvd. He currently sponsors a monthly family bike ride
that is also a fundraiser for the Women of the Moose. Monies raised by
the Loyal Order of Moose and the Women of the Moose are used to support
Mooseheart and Moosehaven, an orphanage in Chicago and a senior
retirement home in Florida. The monthly bike rides are open to all
members of the community. Please call 992-1273 for dates and times.
He now has eleven grandchildren and four greatgrandchildren and over
the years, Bobby Joe has developed a very close relationship with Santa
Claus. He assures us that Santa will be visiting the children at the
Moose Family Center's Christmas party this year and he hopes that a lot
of children will be there to see Santa and receive a gift from him. He
may have come from Alabama but no one could have embraced his community
more or contributed more to its continued success and growth. Bobby Joe
Forehand is indeed, the Spirit of Rio Linda.