It Figures

$420 Million

The amount a South Carolina textile company sued Norfolk Southern railroad for after a train wreck and toxic chemical spill in 2005 forced the company to close. Avondale Mills and Norfolk Southern reached a deal this month. Attorney Terry Richardson said the agreement did not allow him to release the details of the settlement. The suit claimed equipment at the firm’s Graniteville facility was covered with corrosive chemicals and it would have cost more than the business was worth to clean the buildings and replace the machinery.

150,000

The number of pages of documentation Allstate Insurance placed on its Web site after a Florida court upheld an earlier suspension of new business pending the state’s receipt of documents sought by regulators. The state wanted documents to determine why Allstate seeks higher property insurance rates despite a new Florida law passed in 2007 that obligated the state to billions of dollars in increased risk to provide lower reinsurance to private insurers to keep premiums down.

2,000

The number of Mississippians who lost their homes during Hurricane Katrina that have moved out of federally-provided trailers and mobile homes and into Mississippi Cottages. The 2,000th unit was placed in Gulfport in March, making this the 667th family in Harrison County to receive a cottage. Hancock County has 848 families in the cottages, Jackson County has 480 families and Pearl River County has five families.

40

The number of Wrestlemania fans left with minor injuries at an event in Orlando, Fla., when a fireworks display malfunctioned. Fire officials say the fireworks flew into the crowd at the Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium. At least three people were taken to a hospital for treatment.

2547

The number of a Tennessee House bill that prohibits local governments from charging drivers or insurers fees to cover the cost of responding to traffic accidents. It became effective on March 28.

Topics Florida