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Friday, March 3, 2000
Insurance info is public, court rules
State's car coverage data could point to discrimination against minorities
By Chris Williams
Associated Press
AUSTIN - The Texas Supreme Court handed the insurance industry another loss Thursday in its fight to keep confidential certain sales data held by the state.
The court refused to hear an appeal by several insurance companies challenging a lower court's ruling that the data, which some say could show discrimination against minorities, was public.
"We are disappointed," said Sandra Ray of the Southwestern Insurance Information Service Inc., an industry group.
She said the information should remain confidential for competitive reasons. The industry is not trying to hide discrimination, sometimes called redlining, she said.
Suggesting otherwise "demonstrates a complete lack of knowledge about what is going on in the real world of inner-city residents," Ray said.
The data shows how many cars each insurance company covers, by ZIP code. Analysts at the Austin-based Center for Economic Justice say the information shows redlining.
"It is a complete and utter victory," said D.J. Powers, attorney for economist Bernie Birnbaum, who requested the information on behalf of the center.
In refusing to hear the case, the Supreme Court decided the information did not fall under either of two exceptions to the Public Information Act as argued by the insurance industry, he said.
However, the court let stand a lower appeals court ruling that said a jury must decide if the data constitutes a trade secret, which is exempted under the Public Information Act, Powers said.
Rob Schneider, staff attorney for Consumers Union Southwest Regional Office, said open government and civil rights groups have closely monitored the case and would be pleased by the court's decision.
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