Summary Box: Judge tentatively OK’s $72M settlement for The Hartford’s insurance claims payout

Summary Box: Judge OK’s $72M insurance settlement

THE SETTLEMENT: A judge tentatively approves a settlement which calls for The Hartford Financial Services Group Inc. to pay $72.5 million to about 21,000 people nationwide who sued saying they were short-changed for injury claims.

THE ISSUE: The plaintiffs alleged The Hartford engaged in fraudulent settlement practices by deducting up to 15 percent of the value of their settlements for undisclosed costs.

COMPANY RESPONSE: The Hartford said the claimants received what they were promised and did not admit any fraud. It said the company settled to avoid the uncertainty and cost of continued litigation.