It Figures

500
The number of current and former residents of a West Dallas, Texas, neighborhood who showed up for an asbestos screening in July. The neighborhood was also home to a vermiculite plant. Parkland Memorial Hospital was prepared to X-ray up to 300 people, so officials had to make a list of those who were turned away. In 2005, the federal government determined that the Texas Vermiculite plant could have exposed its employees and neighbors to asbestos. W.R. Grace & Co. operated the plant from 1953 to 1992 before it was demolished between 2001 and 2002. Eight of 25 people screened in May showed signs of asbestos-related disease. Further testing is needed to confirm those results.

$100,000
Omaha, Neb.-based workers’ compensation insurer, FirstComp, is celebrating 10 years of business in Arkansas by donating $100,000 to community organizations. Three Arkansas insurance agencies and one small-business owner that have been with the company for 10 years are among those being recognized with the gifts. Ragsdale Insurance (Russellville), Buffalo Insurance (Cabot) and Campbell & Company Insurance (Morrilton) will receive $10,000 each for their chosen charities. The company is donating $10,000 to Barnes Heat and Air Repair in Russellville and to owner Emmitt Barnes’ chosen charity, as well as $10,000 to the Independent Insurance Agents of Arkansas, the Professional Insurance Agents of Arkansas and the Arkansas Children’s Hospital. FirstComp is also donating $20,000 to Little Rock-based Kids’ Chance of Arkansas Scholarship Fund, which provides scholarships to children of Arkansas workers who died or were permanently or totally disabled in a job-related accident.

$200 Million
The approximate amount of money still available to property insurance policyholders through Louisiana’s tax reimbursement program. In 2006, the Legislature appropriated $239 million to refund Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corporation assessments being paid by most property insurance policyholders in Louisiana. As of late July 2007, only about 200,000 taxpayers had filed the necessary form with their state tax return. The average refund is about $168 per policyholder. It is estimated there is about $200 million left to distribute. Request for refund forms are available through the Louisiana Department of Revenue site: www.revenue.la.gov/