@ldarmiento

I cover finance, insurance, aerospace and dealmakers in Southern California. Tips welcome. [email protected]

 Burbank, CA
latimes.com
Joined March 2010
  • Tweets2.5K
  • Following729
  • Followers1.1K
70Media
Behind Elon Musk's plans for a mega-merger of SpaceX and Tesla -- everyone has taken a shot at this. Here is ours. latimes.com/business/story/2…

Behind Elon Musk's plans for a mega-merger of SpaceX and Tesla

Musk said that aerospace firm SpaceX and EV carmaker Tesla were considering a tie-up, confirming speculation that what would be the biggest corporate merger ever is a real possibility.

latimes.com
1
31
SpaceX touts possible Tesla merger after profits soar latimes.com/business/story/2…

SpaceX touts possible Tesla merger after profits soar

After a stellar SpaceX earnings announcement, chief executive Elon Musk said the rocket company is considering a merger with Tesla, the electric car company he also helms.

latimes.com
38
Mortgage lenders probed over how they handled L.A. wildfire insurance payouts latimes.com/business/story/2…

Mortgage lenders probed over how they handled L.A. wildfire insurance payouts

After complaints by January 2025 fire victims about withheld insurance payments, California regulators have ordered mortgage lenders to report on how they have handled the funds.

latimes.com
1
42
L.A. County investigates FAIR Plan's claims practices after widespread complaints latimes.com/business/story/2…

L.A. County investigates FAIR Plan's claims practices after widespread complaints

Los Angeles County looks into the claims practices of the California FAIR Plan, the state's insurer of last resort, after January 2025 wildfire victims' complaints.

latimes.com
40
Newsom signs fire insurance reforms but vetoes two bills addressing complaints by wildfire victims latimes.com/business/story/2…

Newsom signs fire insurance reforms but vetoes two bills addressing complaints by wildfire victims

Gov. Gavin Newsom approved wildfire insurance reforms, but vetoed bills cracking down on claims-handling practices that drew complaints from January 2025 fire victims.

latimes.com
1
1
1
70
In reversal, California regulator says unmarried drivers should not pay more for auto insurance. This policy change follows an article I wrote last month outlining the unfairness of the unmarriage penalty. latimes.com/business/story/2…

In reversal, California regulator says unmarried drivers should not pay more for auto insurance

California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara, in a reversal, will no longer allow auto insurers to consider marital status in setting premiums, a policy that has resulted in unmarried drivers...

latimes.com
65
Governor signs mortgage relief bills for L.A. County and state wildfire victims latimes.com/business/story/2…

Newsom signs mortgage relief bills for L.A. County and California wildfire victims

California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed two bills extending mortgage relief to victims of the January 2025 wildfires in Los Angeles County and other state disasters.

latimes.com
53
Groceries, gas, rent. Why it's so expensive to live in L.A. latimes.com/business/story/2…

Groceries, gas, rent. Why it's so expensive to live in L.A.

L.A. is one of the most expensive places to live in the country, but it's cheaper than New York, Honolulu, Orange County and San Francisco, a survey finds.

latimes.com
1
3
2,176
George Joseph was a navigator on a B-17 that saw heavy action during WWII and a math whiz who graduated from Harvard in three years. He went on to pioneer the use of data to price auto insurance in California -- clashing with regulators and consumer advocates alike. He died last week at 104, still chairman of Mercury General, after a very full life. latimes.com/business/story/2…

George Joseph, pioneering Mercury General founder, dies at 104

George Joseph, a Harvard math major who founded Mercury General and became a fierce opponent of Proposition 103, which regulates California's insurance industry, has died at the age of 104.

latimes.com
2
2
10
3,345
Bill that would have allowed insurers to track driving habits dies in California Legislature latimes.com/business/story/2…

Bill that would have allowed insurers to track driving habits dies in California Legislature

A bill that would have allowed insurers to track driving habits in exchange for potentially lower auto premiums died in the California Legislature this week.

latimes.com
51
Avoiding the family drama: How Josh Kushner built a $16-billion legacy and became the newest owner of the Lakers latimes.com/business/story/2…

Avoiding the family drama: How Josh Kushner built a $16-billion legacy and became the newest owner...

How Josh Kushner rose to became the newest owner of the L.A. Lakers

latimes.com
63
Orange County investor accused of criminal fraud denied bail by judge, citing witness death threat latimes.com/business/story/2…

Orange County investor accused of criminal fraud denied bail by judge, citing witness death threat

Mahender Makhijani, an Orange County real estate investor accused of criminal bank fraud, will remain in jail pending trial after a judge found he made death threats against a witness.

latimes.com
45
What's at stake for Dodgers' owner Mark Walter as authorities probe his businesses latimes.com/business/story/2…

What's at stake for Dodgers' owner Mark Walter as authorities probe his businesses

With the Department of Justice, the SEC and state insurance regulators probing Mark Walter's businesses, the Dodgers owner has a lot on the line.

latimes.com
1
3
4
3,709
"California insurance commissioner candidates split key endorsements"-- Looks like it's going to be a tight race between L.A.-area state Sen. Ben Allen and Bernie Sanders' protege Jane Kim, a former San Francisco supervisor with a Bay Area power base. latimes.com/business/story/2…

Insurance commissioner candidates split key endorsements

State Sen. Ben Allen, who represents the Pacific Palisades fire zone, won the Democratic Party's endorsement for insurance commissioner over former San Francisco Supervisor Jane Kim, who won the...

latimes.com
2
3
1
3,475
The obscure financial maneuver at issue in Dodgers owner probe explained latimes.com/business/story/2…

The obscure financial maneuver at issue in Dodgers owner probe explained

Federal authorities are investigating billions in related-party loans made by two insurers owned by Mark Walter reportedly to entities associated with him or his holding company.

latimes.com
6
3
6
3,770
Not married and need car insurance? You can get dinged for that in California latimes.com/business/story/2…

Not married and need car insurance? You can get dinged for that in California

An appeals court has upheld a California regulation allowing insurers to charge unmarried drivers more for auto insurance.

latimes.com
1
1
230
Want cheaper car insurance? You might get it under a bill that allows insurers to track your driving habits -- Telematics might finally be available in California, the last state that still bars it. My story. latimes.com/business/story/2…

Want cheaper car insurance? You might get it under a bill that allows insurers to track your...

A proposed state law would allow insurers to track the habits of California drivers to get the cheapest insurance.

latimes.com
1
4
3
3,406
Orange County real estate investor pleads not guilty in $100 million bank fraud case latimes.com/business/story/2…

Orange County real estate investor pleads not guilty in $100-million bank fraud case

Mahender Makhijani, who was ordered to pay $1.34 billion in a Laguna Beach real estate arbitration, pleaded not guilty Monday to federal bank fraud charges in a separate criminal case.

latimes.com
4
3
1
7
8,414
Home insurer surcharges for wildfires is legal, judge rules -- More fallout from L.A.'s January 2025 wildfires. latimes.com/business/story/2…

Home insurer surcharges for wildfires is legal, judge rules

A California judge turned down a petition to halt surcharges home insurers have been levying policyholders statewide for costs related to the January 2025 wildfires in L.A. County.

latimes.com
1
5
4
3,384
Rocket Lab enters satellite communications market with $8-billion deal latimes.com/business/story/2…

Rocket Lab enters satellite communications market with $8-billion deal

Rocket Lab, a Long Beach launch company, is acquiring satellite communications provider Iridium for $8 billion in cash and stock, in a deal announced Monday.

latimes.com
1
96
Load more