LOS ANGELES, July 9 (JTA) About the only words of praise for California’s recently resigned insurance commissioner have come from Holocaust survivors.
Survivors are grateful to Chuck Quackenbush, who resigned June 28 in the face of almost certain impeachment, for his dogged attempts to force European insurance companies to pay claims stemming from the Holocaust era.
At the same time, Quackenbush’s resignation left up in the air the future of a $4.2 million humanitarian fund set up by Dutch insurance companies for needy Holocaust survivors.
Quackenbush likely faces a criminal investigation into charges that he allowed California insurance companies to avoid billions of dollars in fines stemming from mishandled earthquake damage claims, in return for much smaller donations to foundations he established.
In April 1999, Quackenbush formed the California Holocaust Insurance Settlement Alliance, led by Holocaust survivors, to increase pressure on recalcitrant European insurers and identify potential claimants residing in California.
Jona Goldrich, one of the state’s leading home builders, was named chairman of the alliance.
In an interview, Goldrich said that he knew nothing of the charges that brought down Quackenbush, but that the former commissioner did “an excellent job for the Jewish community and we will miss him.
“We are ready to work with his successor and only hope that he will be as aggressive in forcing European insurers to pay up,” said Goldrich.
One of Quackenbush’s accomplishments was to persuade three Dutch insurers Aegon, ING and Fortis to establish the $4.2 million fund for the benefit of an estimated 3,000 needy Holocaust survivors in California.
The money is still available and none has been spent, said Richard Mahan, spokesman for the alliance. But the mechanism to transmit and distribute the fund was never established by Quackenbush’s office, due to his other difficulties.
Si Frumkin, who serves on the alliance’s executive committee, termed Quackenbush’s resignation “tragic for the Jews.
“He was the only one to put real pressure on the European insurance companies by threatening to withdraw their permits to conduct business in California.
“I feel very badly about this matter,” added Frumkin. “I would have been proud to drive a tank if Quackenbush were my commander.”
