It Figures

$300,000

Capitol County Mutual Fire Insurance Company, disciplined by Texas regulators for its handling of claims after Hurricane Rita, could face up to $300,000 in fines after the release of an audit by the Texas Department of Insurance. The Associated Press reported that the insurance department alleges the Capitol County misrepresented policies to its clients, took too long to respond to claims, used unqualified adjusters and failed to pay claims where the insurer was liable. TDI’s investigation into the company was spurred by numerous complaints from policyholders in the aftermath of Rita. State regulators fined the carrier $150,000, an amount that could double once the audit is completed in August. Capitol County could also face class action litigation from policyholders who sued the insurer about its decision to join other private insurers in withdrawing wind coverage after Rita struck in September 2005. Phone calls and e-mails to Capitol County and its affiliate companies were not returned, the AP said.

$300 Million

Louisiana’s Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority for now is holding on to $300 million for flood-protection projects in case the money is needed for the New Orleans-area’s levee bills, the Associated Press reported. Louisiana’s share of $12.9 billion in Army Corps of Engineers levee repairs and improvements is $1.8 billion. So far, federal officials have rejected state requests to let Louisiana pay the money over 30 years. Authority chairman Garret Graves said that the $1.1 billion possibly due in 2010 amounts to one-third of Louisiana’s discretionary budget.

362

The Oklahoma Highway Patrol reported July 19, 2008, that 362 people had died in traffic accidents as of that date, compared with 383 traffic-related deaths during the same time in 2007. The number of roadway fatalities trails the 2007 rate, but traffic deaths are up for the month of July compared with July 2007. The Highway Patrol reported 36 deaths as of July 19, compared to 27 for all of July 2007.