Key Takeaways from LFJ’s Special Digital Event: “Investor Insights into Consumer Legal Funding”

This past Tuesday, Litigation Finance Journal hosted a special digital event, “Investor Insights into Consumer Legal Funding.” The panel discussion featured a trio of institutional investors, including Ben Kaplan (BK), co-founder of C9 Partners, Don Plotsky (DP), co-founder of Uinta Investments, and Michael Morris (MM), Managing Director of Northleaf Capital. Dan Avnir (DA), Managing Director of Bryant Park Capital moderated the discussion. 

The panel covered a wide range of ground on Consumer Legal Funding as an asset class. Below are some key takeaways from the event:            

DA: What types of investments do you target across the legal funding marketplace?

BK: We target investments in operating companies. Operating companies with direct or indirect exposure to underlying consumer litigation assets which can include funded assets, with medical liens being the core focus.

DP: We’re looking to basically get investment exposure to the asset—the way we do it is typically in some sort of structured transaction where we’re providing liquidity to the funding company. We’re definitely not plaintiff-facing…we’ll also buy cases directly and partner with funding companies that might be too large for their balance sheets.

MM: We’re about a 15 billion dollar AUM, operating a range of strategies across the credit to equity continuum to get exposure to underlying assets. Generally, we’re looking to deploy $25-200 million or so, in some sort of partnership form with the funder. 

DA: What can you say about your experience with collections these days? Have there been any variants, as compared to pre-COVID levels?

BK: Interesting questions, pre-COVID versus post-COVID. Again, what I’m sharing is from the viewpoint of medical liens where there’s probably more volatility in and around that asset class depending on geography and a myriad of other circumstances—the nature of the treatment whether it’s surgery or MRI.

To summarize, when COVID hit, there was actually, we experienced across a few different areas, a massive acceleration. At the outset of COVID, the takeaway is that there was an acceleration of collections. What I would say is that COVID has advanced…what we’re starting to see now is a backlog of cases attributable to court closures and other issues, that I would say at the beginning of 2021 has started to slow down collections a bit. Insurance companies have taken more of an aggressive posture with respect to litigation and they’re fighting those a little bit more aggressively. So I think we’ve seen an acceleration early on in COVID, and a bit of a slowdown in early 2021.

DA: Don, what are you seeing out there from the funders you’ve been partnering with? Are trials in most states delayed?

DP: In many cases, if not most typically, there’s some sort of settlement involved, rather than necessarily a trial verdict. But we’ve definitely noted an extension of maturity of the assets in the portfolio. Statistically, we would look at an 18-month duration to a three-year final type of profile on the assets that we buy, and we’re seeing things really creep out there beyond three years. Some of the assets that we own, we expected to have gotten greater cash flows than we received so far.

We hear from the funding companies that business has definitely slowed down 20 or 30%, and we’re noting the extension of the portfolio. That certainly seems to be COVID-related.

DA: What are your current return expectations across these assets that you’re investing in? Have the results lived up to the expectations you had?

MM: There are two different lenses through which to look at it. I think in the space overall, in the two primary areas of the US…I do think over the last several years going back even before COVID, you seen some return compression at the asset level. As more money has come into the space, the search for yield that you can’t help but read about, it has made its way into the space a bit.

DA: Are you seeing origination levels still down across the board as compared to pre-COVID levels, or are we beginning to see an uptick as of late?

DP: Again, we’re not plaintiff-facing, so we don’t have people coming through the door. What we do see is fairly steady activity from the funding companies we deal with. What I’ll point out, is that more so than the actual volume of cases, it’s the condition of the financial markets surrounding this asset that are really driving supply.

DA: What is the typical ROI target for a facility to a pre-settlement funding company? What information would you look to review in consideration of a facility?

DP: From an investment perspective, we’re looking for a low-to-mid teen preferred rate of return…so in terms of total return on investment, we would hope to get perhaps slightly higher than that. When you look at all the components of the net return to investors, you also have to take into account that there are enormous cash flows here. We look to deliver 10-12% net annual return to our investors, and after that, 15% IRR.

MM: For us, we’re sort of looking for kind of the best run cleanest plain vanilla senior debt, to make high single digits, and go up from there.

DA: On pre-settlement funding side, if a group starting an origination platform today, what would you say would be the biggest challenges and opportunities?

BK: I think the greatest opportunity is probably that there exists enough people who have been involved with businesses that have become institutional at this point, that there’s some good talent out there in terms of people who really know how to run a business and manage balance sheets and understand the industry. I think it’s an opportunity as the industry has grown…there’s better human capital out there.

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Legal-Bay Pre-Settlement Funding Company Renews Focus on FELA and Railroad Cases in Light of Newly-filed Wrongful Death Lawsuits Against Norfolk Southern Railroad

By Harry Moran and 4 others |

Legal-Bay, the premier Pre Settlement Funding Company, announces today that they are expanding their FELA and railroad injury claims department due to an increase in railway worker personal injury claims and the recent wrongful death lawsuit filed against Norfolk Southern Railroad.

The Norfolk case was filed earlier this month on the second anniversary of the tragic East Palestine, Ohio train derailment and subsequent toxic spill where plaintiffs claim multiple lingering health issues, including seven deaths. The lawsuit also levels accusations against the EPA and CDC, alleging that neither organization carried out a proper cleanup, nor warned residents about the potential health risks, elevating fears that their sudden mysterious illnesses could progress into something more serious.

Train derailments are only one of many reasons railroad lawsuits are filed. Everyday commuters can be victims of criminal violence on subways, or be injured due to improperly maintained train cars or railway stations. Plaintiffs will normally file negligence suits against the rail line and even the city itself for failing to keep their passengers safe.

If you are a plaintiff in any type of active railroad injury litigation and need an immediate cash advance lawsuit loan against an impending lawsuit settlement, please visit Legal-Bay HERE or call toll-free at 877.571.0405.

Chris Janish, CEO, commented, "Our funding on FELA cases this year is up over 100%. Legal-Bay is putting a large focus on train accidents in light of recent national headlines. We have always been a leader in FELA cases because of our expertise and our ability to provide ample capital for the long haul on these cases."

In addition to passenger lawsuits, there has also been an increase in FELA funding requests from railway employees within recent months. Legal Bay has even launched a new website specifically built for railroad FELA claims and railroad workers. The lawsuit funding company also secured more capital for railroad workers and employees covered under the FELA Act of 1908, which provides financial relief for railroad employees seeking workers compensation for an injury sustained on the job or in the yard.

If you are (or were) a railroad worker who has filed a lawsuit because of injuries you've suffered due to no fault of your own, or if you were injured due to negligence of your rail company or supervisor, or if you were hurt on the job because of faulty equipment or unsafe working conditions, then you may qualify for legal funding.

If you are a plaintiff or attorney involved in an active FELA railroad injury lawsuit and need an immediate cash advance lawsuit loan against an impending settlement, please visit our specialized FELA website HERE or call toll-free at 877.571.0405.

While railway workers need to take a few extra steps, most everyday victims of railroad injuries can file personal injury lawsuits. Damages in railroad injury cases are in line with other personal injury settlement awards such as reimbursement for lost earnings, medical expenses, and physical as well as mental pain and suffering.

Legal-Bay has been funding train accidents for the last 15 years and focuses much of their attention to certain cities and states: New York, NY; Newark, New Jersey; Boston, Massachusetts; Philadelphia, PA; Washington, D.C.; Atlanta, GA; Nashville, TN; Chicago, IL; and Los Angeles, CA to name a few. 

They are often referred to as one of the best lawsuit loan companies out there and the best lawsuit funding provider for railroad workers, in part because the lawsuit settlement loan company offers the quickest approvals and lowest rates industry wide. Contact Legal-Bay today or visit our specialized FELA website HERE to find out why we are considered the top lawsuit money lender around.

Legal-Bay advocates for victims of railroad injuries, but they provide settlement loan funding for all types of cases including personal injury, dog bites, slip and falls, car accidents, boat accidents, motorcycle accidents, bike accidents, truck accidents, and more.

Legal-Bay provides some of the best rates and fastest approvals in the industry, less than 24-48 hours in some cases. They offer free lawsuit evaluation on your settlement amount or case value, along with no out-of-pocket expenses or upfront costs. Their settlement funding loans have helped numerous plaintiffs by providing immediate cash in advance of a lawsuit's anticipated monetary award. The non-recourse law suit loans—sometimes referred to as loans for lawsuit or loans on settlement—are risk-free, as the money doesn't need to be repaid should the recipient lose their case. Therefore, the lawsuit loans aren't really a loan, but rather a cash advance.

To learn more about Legal-Bay's funding for FELA claims, railroad worker, railway passenger personal injury lawsuits, railroad lawsuit loans, rail worker personal injury pre settlement funding, railroad employees personal injury settlement loans, or railroad worker personal injury lawsuit loan funds, please visit the company's website HERE to apply right now or call toll-free at: 877.571.0405 where friendly and helpful agents are standing by to answer your questions.

Legal-Bay Pre-Settlement Funding Announces Additional Capital for Wrongful Termination Cases Due to Sexual Harassment and Sexual Abuse

Legal-Bay LLC, The Lawsuit Settlement Funding Company, reports today that they have set aside a large portion of their pre-settlement cash advance funding capital specifically for plaintiffs of sexual harassment cases. Legal-Bay has vast experience with unlawful termination and wrongful unemployment lawsuits related to sexual harassment and retaliation, as well as racial, gender, or age-related discrimination, whether in the office or elsewhere. Based on recent court case filings, the premier funding firm anticipates even more wrongful termination lawsuit filings to come.

Legal-Bay delivers financial assistance to people who've recently found themselves unlawfully unemployed, providing cash advances to plaintiffs while their cases are tied up in litigation. Sadly, sexual harassment is all too common in corporate workspaces, and if a person on the receiving end of it loses their job because of it, loss of pay or benefits can add financial stress to an already emotional situation. Lawsuit loans can offer a bit of monetary help during a trying time.

Chris Janish, CEO, commented, "While it's disconcerting to see an increase in sexual harassment filings, it's heartening to know that people aren't hesitating to file suit against their offenders. Many unlawfully terminated victims are unable to get new jobs right away, and sometimes a cash advance from Legal-Bay is the only way to pay the bills."

If you're an attorney or plaintiff in an ongoing wrongful termination, sexual abuse, sexual harassment, retaliation, racial, age, or gender discrimination lawsuit and require an immediate cash advance lawsuit loan from your anticipated lawsuit settlement, please visit our website HERE or call 877.571.0405.

Legal-Bay is an advocate for victims involved in sexual misconduct, sexual harassment, and sexual abuse cases. Their settlement loan programs offer immediate cash in advance of a plaintiff's anticipated monetary award for many other types of sex crime cases such as clergy or Catholic Church sexual abuse cases, prison rape cases, police brutality, and more. The non-recourse lawsuit loans also help victims involved in unlawful termination and wrongful unemployment lawsuits, personal injury lawsuits, car and truck accidents, commercial litigation, verdict or judgment on appeal cases, medical malpractice, and more.

Legal-Bay's programs are non-recourse lawsuit cash advances—sometimes referred to as loans for lawsuits or loans on settlement—and are risk-free, as the money doesn't need to be repaid should the recipient lose their case. Therefore, the lawsuit loans aren't really a loan, but rather a cash advance.

Legal-Bay has some of the quickest turnaround in the industry, normally getting plaintiffs cash-in-hand within 48-hours of filing an application. If you require money now, please visit the company's website HERE or call 877.571.0405 where skilled agents are standing by. 

Legal Bay Presettlement Funding Reports Updates to Zantac Lawsuits

By Harry Moran |

Legal-Bay LLC, a leading pre settlement funding company, reports that November's $2.2 billion ruling against GlaxoSmithKline has still not been distributed to 80,000+ Zantac plaintiffs. The UK-based pharmaceutical company has been the target of numerous lawsuits for the past five years with plaintiffs alleging the popular heartburn medication causes cancer, and that the company failed to warn users that its main ingredient—ranitidine—may be a human carcinogen.

Testing last month determined how such dangerous levels of ranitidine ended up in the antacid product. As it turns out, impurities in the NDMA found in ranitidine increase when exposed to higher temps and humid conditions. Meaning that the Zantac may have been manufactured correctly, but when it was stored in a damp bathroom or glove compartment of a car, users themselves may have unwittingly triggered the very agent that caused their cancer. 

Chris Janish, CEO of Legal Bay, says, "GSK felt it was in the company's best interest to settle the lawsuits in order to appease shareholders rather than draw out litigation endlessly, especially considering they have been able to do so while providing no admission of liability. While we don't have an exact timeline for when payouts are expected to begin, we are nonetheless offering funding for Zantac plaintiffs while they wait."

To apply for a cash advance lawsuit loan from your anticipated GSK Zantac lawsuit settlement, please visit the company's website HERE or call 877.571.0405.   

There is no way to estimate final settlement amounts or how much each plaintiff's case will be worth. Similar case values have been determined based on extent/amount of injuries along with the level of merit to the case. Each case is unique, and many factors go into deciding final damages. For the Zantac lawsuit payouts, plaintiffs will fall into one of three tiers:

  • Tier I:

Tier 1 injuries can expect payouts in the $300,000 range.  Injuries in this tier include cancers of the stomach, prostate, pancreas, or breast.

  • Tier II:

Tier 2 injuries can expect payouts between $80,000 and 160,000 in most cases.  Injuries in this tier include cancers of the major organs like bladder, kidney, or liver.

  • Tier III:

Tier 3 injuries are looking at payouts anywhere between $20,000 and $60,000.  Injuries in this tier vary greatly, but to a lesser extent than Tier I or II.

The verdicts in these lawsuits are wildly inconsistent and entirely unpredictable, and Legal Bay says there are no guarantees of award amounts nor time frames for payouts just based on the sheer number of claims to process. Nevertheless, Legal-Bay is one of the few legal funding companies who are providing some financial relief to Zantac lawsuit plaintiffs and their families with risk-free, non-recourse cash advance settlement loans. They have been a leader in the mass tort and Qui Tam arena for over fifteen years and have vast experience within this space. These litigations are complex, and Legal Bay has the knowledge and understanding to help plaintiffs navigate the complicated waters of the legal system.

If you're a plaintiff in an active GSK Zantac lawsuit and need an immediate cash advance from your anticipated settlement, please visit the company's website HERE or call 877.571.0405 where agents are standing by to hear about your specific case. 

Legal-Bay is one of the best lawsuit loan companies when it comes to mass tort and Qui Tam litigations, and has a great reputation within the industry. Legal-Bay assists plaintiffs in all types of class action and mass tort lawsuits, including: Round Up, Hernia Mesh, IVC Filters, Essure, Exactech hip and knee recall, Sex Abuse cases, JUUL, and more.

Legal-Bay assists plaintiffs in all other types of lawsuits including personal injury, dog bites, motor vehicle accidents, medical malpractice, police brutality, unlawful incarceration, workplace discrimination, wrongful termination, and more.

Legal-Bay's loan for settlement funding programs are designed to provide immediate cash in advance of a plaintiff's anticipated monetary award. While it's common to refer to these legal funding requests as settlement loans, loans for settlements, law suit loans, loans for lawsuits, etc., the "lawsuit loan" funds are, in fact, non-recourse. That means there's no risk when it comes to loans in lawsuit settlements because there is no obligation to repay the money if the recipient loses their case. Therefore, terms like settlement loan, loans for lawsuit, loans on settlement, or lawsuit loan funds don't necessarily apply, as the "loan on lawsuit" isn't really a loan at all, but rather a stress-free cash advance.

Legal-Bay is known to many as the best lawsuit funding provider in the industry for their helpful and knowledgeable staff, low rates, and quick turnaround, sometimes within 24-48 hours once all documents have been received.

To apply right now for a loan settlement program, please visit the company's website HERE or call toll-free at: 877.571.0405 where agents are standing by to answer any questions.