It Figures

$692,000

The Louisiana Department of Insurance owes $692,000 for legal fees and other costs in a dispute with the Office of the Legislative Auditor over access to internal documents. Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon sued the auditor’s office in 2007 in an attempt to block access to documents and e-mails that investigators said they wanted to complete an audit of Donelon’s agency. Donelon lost that suit in July and has since allowed Legislative Auditor Steve Theriot access to the department’s files. Theriot said that he’s sending Donelon a bill for $692,000. He said that’s the bill for legal fees and other costs created by the dispute. AP

$200,000

Pleasanton, Texas-based Erection Professionals Inc., which constructs metal buildings, pleaded guilty to workers’ compensation fraud-related charges and has been ordered to repay $200,000 to Texas Mutual. Texas Mutual had alleged that Erection Professionals — which is owned by Gregory S. Dicaro — intentionally misrepresented the number of its employees and its payroll to Texas Mutual from April 2004 to July 2006, and February 2007 to August 2007. Because workers’ compensation insurance premium is based, in part, on payroll, this type of scheme results in an employer being charged a lower premium than it actually owes.