It Figures

$2.25 Million

Settlement reached between the City of Camden, N.J. and the families of three boys, aged 5 to 11, who died in the trunk of a parked car as police searched for them in 2005. Police scoured Camden after the boys vanished, but no one checked the trunk of the Toyota Camry parked in one of the boy’s family’s yards. One officer looked quickly in the main part of the car, then moved on. Officials believe it’s likely the boys were still alive at the time. Toyota agreed last year to pay the family of each boy $100,000.

$400,000

Amount awarded to four families after a Maryland oil company was found responsible for polluting wells in Carroll County with the toxic gasoline additive known as MTBE. The four families lived near a Jiffy Mart gas station owned by Tevis Oil. One of the four families has been forced to use bottled water at their home since 2003 when MTBE was found in their well.

10,000

Number of Massachusetts driving records that will be amended, following a settlement with four insurers – Arbella, Norfolk & Dedham, United Services Automobile Association (USAA) and Electric Insurance Co. – over their failure to correct their insureds’ records in a statewide database. The companies failed to fix the records after drivers won appeals from a state board that determines fault in accidents and traffic violations. Six other insurers have reached similar settlements this year.

200

Anniversary observed this month by insurer The Hartford. Company executives marked the bicentennial by ringing the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange on May 10.

5

Years-long sentence give to Connecticut insurance agent Thomas Cipriano for defrauding two-dozen clients of more than $2 million. He gambled away most of that money. Cipriano pleaded guilty last year; he was sentenced this month.