A computer reported missing two months ago by the technologysubsidiary of insurance broker Marsh, CS STARS, with personalinformation from more than 540,000 injured New York workers, hasbeen recovered, CS STARS announced last week.

Chicago-based CS STARS, in a statement, said the computercontaining the names, addresses, telephone and Social Securitynumbers of individuals receiving workers' compensation benefitsmanaged through New York's Special Funds Conservation Committee wasfound and secured.

CS STARS said the Federal Bureau of Investigation, which isstill conducting an investigation, said it is reasonably sure therewas no use of the data.

An FBI spokesperson in Chicago said the desktop computer isbeing tested to see if the information was ever accessed. Sheconfirmed that the FBI is reasonably certain there was no use ofthe data.

She said an investigation continues and she could not commentfurther on where the computer was located or if it involved theft.She also declined to say how long it will be before theinvestigation is completed.

Alfred J. Modugno, a spokesperson for Marsh, explained that acomputer containing the information was lost on May 9, but the losswas not reported to management until June 19. The Special FundsCommittee was alerted of the problem on June 29, after aninvestigation by MMC management and MMC's investigative servicesunit, Kroll, confirmed the hardware was missing.

Special Funds Conservation Committee manages and maintains NewYork state's Special Disability Fund and the Fund for ReopenedCases.

Two weeks ago, CS STARS mailed letters to the 540,000 peopleaffected by this incident. The company offered each person a numberof free services and coverage, including daily monitoring ofnational credit reports for 12 months and $25,000 in identity theftinsurance.

The company said it would continue to offer these services andcoverage to each person. It added that it would follow up withinforming those affected by the loss about news of therecovery.

The company declined to make any additional comments.

According to Karen Allen, director of operations for SpecialFunds, the desktop was sent to CS STARS for data conversion. It wasreceived by the company at its secure facility, but it remained amystery whether the computer was misplaced or stolen.

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