24

The number of settlements being worked out of 27 lawsuits against Dr. John King, the one-time West Virginia osteopath at the center of scores of malpractice claims. A medical device maker, Biomet Inc., told shareholders it has reached agreements with 24 of 27 plaintiffs who sued over bone stimulators made by its EBI subsidiary and allegedly implanted by King during his six-month stint at the former Putnam General Hospital. The 27 are among the more than 120 who allege that King misdiagnosed, harmed and even killed patients as a surgeon in 2002.

63%

The percent of Georgia fire departments that say they do not have protective equipment for all personnel to respond to wildfires or protective equipment for all personnel to respond to a hazardous materials incident, according to a national study sponsored by Fireman’s Fund Insurance Co. that included 203 departments in Georgia.

300

The number of weeks after an injured worker turns 65 or becomes eligible for Social Security when all workers’ compensation benefit payments would cease, under a bill advanced by the North Carolina House Insurance Committee. Under the bill (HB 1022), the worker would have to appeal before a state board to reinstate payments. Supporters believe the measure would cut costs for employers and make North Carolina more competitive. Opponents argue it would hurt senior citizens.

61%

The percent cut in property losses that Florida could realize if it required all new construction to meet stronger building codes and older buildings to be retrofitted to withstand severe storms, according a report, “Resilient Coasts: a Blueprint for Action,” prepared by the Heinz Center and Ceres. The loss reduction is estimated at $51 billion.

4 to 7

The number of storms likely to develop into hurricanes during the upcoming 2009 Atlantic hurricane season according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which would be an average season. One to three could be major ones of Category 3 or higher.