The Finance Factor

A lot has been written and said about what happened on that fateful night when toxic gases escaped from the Union Carbide factory in Bhopal. Till then, nobody had given much thought to what an environment disaster was all about. The results of the catastrophe were difficult to even imagine. It was worse than what has been depicted in a few futuristic movies that are based on apocalypses and similar frightening phenomena. They were so many physically challenged men, women and children, who emerged as survivors of this terrible disaster. After a long legal battle, Structured Settlements were thought of and some moneys were distributed to these hapless individuals. The point in question here is this: did these Structured Settlements really help those who had lost their only means of livelihood and for no fault of theirs, suffered untold miseries caused by the leaching of toxic substances into the soil and water around them?

One reason why I would argue that these settlements meant nothing much is that they came at a time when they were unable to do anything good for these people. It is possible that if the company had made these payments, well within the expected timeframe, a lot could have been done to save not just these people, but also quite a few of their holdings as well. Since the toxins got absorbed into the soil, the fertility of the soil dropped to near zero. Apart from this, the drinking water also got contaminated. The Structured Settlements could do nothing to save the plight of these unfortunate people. Continue reading ‘Do Structured Settlements Really Help Physically Challenged Persons?’ »

Just think about this for a good five minutes. Do you think a person is going to give you a large sum of money without any strings attached? Why is he being so good to you? Is it because he is quite convinced that you are this very unlucky guy who has been getting the wrong end of the stick for a very long time? Or is it a fact that you are so innocent looking that he wants to make sure that you get a sum of half a million dollars! Boy, oh boy! Tell me about it! I really don’t think he is doing all this just for you. Considering the fact that he is an attorney, I am sure he knows all the pros and cons (and anything else in between) that needs to be known about Structured Settlements and how they really work.

All this info is coming your way because there are quite a few people who have been up this very lane, in the recent past. There have been cases where Structured Settlements have been negotiated by smartass lawyers who for all practical purposes were wolves in sheep’s disguise. It is a very frustrating and low thing to do, when you succeed in taking someone for a ride. There was a case of a lawyer who was smart enough to convince his client that the financial services firm that he spoke of so highly was a front for his own organization. He told the poor guy that he had nothing to do with the firm and that he would put in a word on the client’s behalf and ensure that the Structured Settlements were done as smoothly as possible. The guy being as gullible as a child fell for the ploy, hook, line and sinker. It was a disaster because he ended up making the lawyer doubly rich. The clever dude in black robes had got his fees as a lawyer and also ensured that he got a good cut out of the money that was invested in the financial services firm. There was nothing that could be done. This was because the client had trusted his legal advisor to such an extent that he did not realize that his money would be used to fund the expenses that his lawyer incurred. Continue reading ‘Are Structured Settlements Really the Jackpot That They Are Made Out to Be?’ »

Structured settlements are financial agreements that are worked out between a claimant and a defendant in tort proceedings. The two parties decide on a tax-free financial settlement that is paid out over a period of time that is determined by the claimant. Organized by Congress during the 1970s, these settlements were designed as an improvement over lump sum payments.

Nevertheless, our financial system has been ravaged by the decline for the last two years. Bankruptcies, foreclosures, and unemployment rates have increased greatly, putting many persons and families at risk. Hence, plenty of people have looking for a method to sell their future annuities in order to get structured settlement cash.

While these arrangements were proposed to help people be more financially conscientious, there are circumstances where liquidity is required. People are curious about how to get settlement cash in case they need to pay a bill or want to make a large purchase. Continue reading ‘How to Get Structured Settlement Cash’ »

There have been numerous instances of workers in a factory being maimed and seriously injured in the course of duty. One wonders whether Structured Settlements could help them. There was a case of a worker who was working on a building site. He had taken all necessary precautions, such as wearing a helmet and a safety harness. He had been assigned the job of working atop a makeshift landing or platform that kept moving up and down. In the course of doing so, there was a problem with the apparatus that helped in the movement of the platform. The cord that supported it broke, bringing the workman crashing to the hard stone floor, nearly hundred feet below.

Nothing much could be done for the man, when they brought him into the hospital. He was put into an intensive care unit after emergency operations were done. The doctors were of the opinion that only a miracle could save him. The man’s lawyer, who was able to present a very strong case, ensured that the man was awarded a Structured Settlements package that would take care of his medical expenses. Now, in this kind of situation, one wonders whether this kind of package was just and equitable in all respects. Continue reading ‘Life Expectancies and Structured Settlements’ »

You might wonder what the connection is between a farmer and Structured Settlements. Agriculture and buying power are very closely interconnected. There are very few countries in the world today where agriculture does not play an important role. In the developing world, more and more leaders have learn harsh and bitter lessons on sustainability. They have understood that in order to survive, being self-sufficient to the maximum extent possible is probably the best and most lasting solution. Therefore, agriculture is one of the most important parts of the skeleton that can be equated to the economy of a nation. In this kind of situation, is it not but natural that the farmer (who is the major stakeholder in the agricultural sphere of his country) who has toiled all his life expects an equitable solution? This is where Structured Settlements could help change the course of his life. Continue reading ‘Would a Farmer Be Interested in Structured Settlements?’ »