INSURANCE

MetLife Broadens Settlement: Metropolitan Life Insurance Co., accused of misleading consumers by selling its whole life policies as retirement or savings accounts, agreed to expand the terms of an earlier settlement, making it easier for California victims to collect restitution. Under the deal announced by state Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi, MetLife will compensate not only consumers with evidence of misrepresentation, but also those who feel they were misled but lack evidence. The deadline for filing claims has been extended to Sept. 30, 1995, from June 30, 1994. As part of a national settlement last March, MetLife originally agreed to pay a $1.1-million fine, plus reimbursement averaging $1,000 apiece to about 2,700 California consumers.