Idaho Businesses and Government to Get Piece of $35 Million

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — More than 13,000 businesses as well as state and local governments have received a portion of $35 million following the settlement of a class-action lawsuit. The Idaho Statesman reports that the entities recently received the money after the Idaho Insurance Fund settled the lawsuit that focused on dividends. The fund paid dividends to policy holders on a prorated basis, but plaintiffs said state law required the fund to pay equal dividends to policy holders.

The fund provides workers compensation insurance. The lawsuit included those with policies between July 1, 2002, and May 5, 2009. Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter in 2009 signed emergency legislation to allow the fund to prorate dividends. The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare received nearly $780,000 that's been deposited in the department's general fun.