Consumer Rights
Challenging an Industry Conspiracy to Inflate Bail Bond Prices for California Consumers and Their Families
Case Overview
our Clients
Public Counsel Legal Team
Directing Attorney‚ Consumer Rights & Economic Justice
Senior Staff Attorney
Public Counsel is co-counsel in a statewide antitrust case challenging alleged price-fixing in California’s commercial bail bond market. The lawsuit alleges that Defendants worked together to preserve a default ten percent premium, suppressed discounting and prevented consumers from obtaining lower prices for bail bonds.
The case was brought on behalf of people who paid all or part of a California commercial bail bond premium, and seeks damages and injunctive relief.
Public Counsel represents the Named Plaintiffs alongside National Consumer Law Center, Justice Catalyst Law, Towards Justice, and Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein LLP.
Since the case was filed, Plaintiffs have repeatedly defeated efforts to dismiss their antitrust claims. In June 2025, the Court approved $3 million in settlements with Lexon Insurance Company and Danielson National Insurance Company. In March 2026, the Court entered additional settlement-related orders involving several remaining Defendants, moving the case further toward resolution.
Court
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
Status
Partially Settled
Case No.
4:19-cv-00717
Filed
02/08/2019
our co-counsel
Case Developments
FILING
06/25/2026
Plaintiffs Move for Preliminary Approval of Settlements
Plaintiffs filed a motion for preliminary approval of settlements. The Court set the preliminary approval hearing for September 3, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. in Oakland, Courtroom 6, 2nd Floor. Responses are due July 9, 2026, and replies are due July 16, 2026.
RULING
03/20/2026
Court Enters Settlement Stay with Bankers Insurance Company
U.S. District Court Judge Jon S. Tigar entered the stipulated order staying proceedings between Plaintiffs and Bankers while the parties finalize a long-form settlement agreement and present it to the Court for preliminary approval.
Ruling
03/06/2026
Court Enters Additional Settlement-Related Orders
The Court entered additional settlement-related orders involving several remaining Defendants, including Seaview Insurance Company; United States Fire Insurance Company, The North River Insurance Company, and Seneca Insurance Company; Accredited Surety and Casualty Company, Inc. and American Contractors Indemnity Company; and American Surety Company, William B. Carmichael, and Indiana Lumbermens Mutual Insurance Company.
RULing
06/06/2025
Court Grants Final Approval of Lexon and DNIC Settlements
Filing
12/11/2024
Plaintiffs Move for Class Certification
Plaintiffs moved for class certification on behalf of California consumers who paid all or part of a commercial bail bond premium.
RULING
11/07/2022
Court Denies Motion to Dismiss Third Consolidated Amended Complaint
The Court denied Defendants’ motion to dismiss the third consolidated amended complaint, allowing Plaintiffs’ antitrust and unfair-competition theories to proceed.
Order Denying Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss
Order Granting in Part and Denying in Part defendants‘ Motions to Dismiss
FILING
05/01/2019
Court Consolidates Related Federal Actions
Filing
01/29/2019
Plaintiffs File Complaint
Plaintiffs filed the original antitrust complaint in Alameda County Superior Court, alleging that bail bond sureties and related Defendants conspired to keep commercial bail bond premiums artificially high and suppress lawful discounting.
Press Releases
Press Release
01/10/25
Press Release
04/13/20
Plaintiffs Defeat Motion to Dismiss California Bail Bonds Antitrust Litigation
Learn MoreMedia
- Daily Journal, “Bail bond insurers agree to $66 million antitrust settlement,” 6/29/26
- Reuters, “Bail bond insurers to pay $69 million to settle price-fixing class action,” 6/26/26
- Courthouse News Service, “Bail bond insurer price-fixing case likely to survive dismissal bid,” 12/12/24
- Courthouse News Service, “Federal judge gives preliminary OK to $3 million bail bond antitrust settlement,” 12/11/24
- Bloomberg Law, “Bail Bonds Price-Fixing Antitrust Deal Gets Preliminary Approval,” 12/11/24
- Courthouse News Service, “Bail Bond Insurer Must Face Price-Fixing Antitrust Claims by California Customers,” 1/5/21
- Courthouse News Service, “Bail Industry Asks California Judge to Throw Out Price-Fixing Class Action,” 10/30/20
- Los Angeles Times, “Bail companies in California have conspired to keep premiums high, lawsuit alleges,” 1/29/19
- Associated Press, “Lawsuit claims California bail industry keeps premiums high,” 1/30/19
- CBS San Francisco, “Lawsuit Filed In Alameda Co. Court Accuses Bail Industry Of Keeping Premiums High,” 1/30/19
