31.   In the short term, the company would act as a health plan purchasing pool.

32.   Industry officials have said that if companies are acting illegally, the insurance department has the information and power to stop it.

33.   In those cases, the defendant would only be required to pay the limited amount unless a judge found that the company acted recklessly.

34.   Less than three years since tumbling into bankruptcy court, the company is acting like a player.

35.   Michael Wadley, a spokesman for BT, said the company acted to protect its interests.

36.   Mrs. Keiser, acknowledging that the company did act to protect her credit, certainly was not aware that a cutoff was a possibility.

37.   Ms. Winters added that Bally was unaware of the Internet postings and that the company had acted out of courtesy.

38.   Sallat said the company would act quickly to transfer the balance of its payment.

39.   Schunk said the company was acting morally by making voluntary reductions first.

40.   Sulzer officials insist the company acted as swiftly as possible once it learned of the defect and is doing everything it can to correct the damage.