Consumer Watchdog is a left-of-center nonprofit organization that attempts to expose business and governmental activity it deems corrupt and unjust. In addition to raising awareness to the general public in reports, it also attempts to influence policy by submitting analyses to government regulators, pressuring lawmakers to take action, leaking information to the media, and litigating against businesses and other organizations. ¹

Activities

Consumer Watchdog was founded in 1985 by public interest lawyer Harvey Rosenfield. ² Since then, it has pursued numerous litigation and advocacy efforts on behalf of what it calls “consumer protection,” namely left-progressive campaigns against businesses. It has advocated in several key issue areas, such as energy, healthcare, the legal system, campaign finance, patient safety, privacy, and technology. ³

In addition to its litigation efforts, Consumer Watchdog’s leaders have published books through the organization, covering topics such as medical malpractice, corruption in the health insurance industry, corporate power, and Democratic politics. Its general policy platform has been to increasingly regulate the free market and to raise taxes. ⁴

Consumer Watchdog hosts the “Rage for Justice Awards,” an award ceremony for activists and litigators in the “public interest movement.” It is held in honor of former U.S. Representative Phillip Burton (D-CA). ⁵ Prominent recipients of the awards have included former State Sen. Sheila Kuehl (D-Los Angeles), U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and his wife Jane Sanders, former U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA), left-of-center billionaire philanthropist Tom Steyer, and former U.S. Sen. Al Franken (D-MN). ⁶

Funding

In 2019, Consumer Watchdog had a total revenue of $4,790,957, total expenses of $3,508,420, and net assets of $5,305,639. ⁷

Leadership

Consumer Watchdog was founded by public interest lawyer Harvey Rosenfield. He has worked for the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Congress, Ralph Nader’s Public Citizen Congress Watch as a staff attorney, and the California Public Interest Research Group (CalPIRG) as a program director. He is the author of Silent Violence, Silent Death: The Hidden Epidemic of Medical Practice and the co-author of initiatives on health maintenance organization (HMO) reform and utility rate deregulation (Proposition 9, 1998). He also authored Proposition 103 and organized the campaign that eventually helped it pass in 1988. ⁸

Jamie Court is the president of Consumer Watchdog and chairman of the board. He is the author of The Progressive’s Guide to Raising Hell: How to Win Grassroots Campaigns, Pass Ballot Box Laws and Get the Change You Voted For. He has been the leader of several political campaigns to increase regulations on banks, tech companies, insurance companies, oil companies, utilities, and political activities, particularly campaign finance practices. ⁹

1. “Our Approach.” Consumer Watchdog. Accessed 26 February 2022. https://www.consumerwatchdog.org/our-approach.
2.  “Harvey Rosenfield.” Consumer Watchdog. Accessed 26 February 2022. https://consumerwatchdog.org/users/harvey-rosenfield.
3. “Our Issues.” Consumer Watchdog. Accessed 26 February 2022. https://www.consumerwatchdog.org/issues.
4. “Our Books. Consumer Watchdog. Accessed 26 February 2022. https://www.consumerwatchdog.org/our-books.
5. “Rage for Justice Awards.” Consumer Watchdog. Accessed 26 February 2022. https://www.consumerwatchdog.org/rage-justice-awards.
6. “Rage for Justice Awards.” Consumer Watchdog. Accessed 26 February 2022. https://www.consumerwatchdog.org/rage-justice-awards.
7. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Consumer Watchdog. 2019. Part I, lines 12, 18, and 22.
8. “Harvey Rosenfield.” Consumer Watchdog. Accessed 26 February 2022. https://consumerwatchdog.org/users/harvey-rosenfield.
9. “Jamie Court.” Consumer Watchdog. Accessed 26 February 2022. https://consumerwatchdog.org/users/jamie-court.