Hertz Fined $13.7 Million

Auto rental giant Hertz Corp. pleaded guilty today to charges it defrauded customers and insurance companies of $13 million in car repair costs and agreed to pay $13.7 million in fines and restitution, prosecutors said.

The penalty included $6.85 million in criminal fines, the largest ever levied against a corporation in a criminal case, said Ann Driscoll, a spokeswoman for Brooklyn U.S. Atty. Andrew Maloney.