If you are a plaintiff, involved in a lawsuit and you are represented by an attorney, you may be eligible for a cash advance on your pending settlement. This is also known as non- recourse lawsuit loan, legal finance, lawsuit funding, pre-settlement funding or lawsuit cash advance.
Most of the plaintiffs involved in lawsuits do not realize they can get
cash advance before their case settles. It is called as lawsuit funding
and often referred as lawsuit loan, legal finance, lawsuit cash advance,
litigation financing, legal financing, pre-settlement loan and
plaintiff cash advance.
The following 22 facts, every plaintiff must know about lawsuit loans. I
hope these will help and guide them to take a knowledgeable and
judicious decision.
1. Who is eligible for Lawsuit funding?
If you are a plaintiff, involved in any of following lawsuits (but not
limited to), i.e.: personal injury, auto accident, malpractice (medical,
legal, construction), employment discrimination, fraud, product
liability, breach of contract, Mesothelioma, negligence, workers
compensation, civil rights, class action, patent infringement, whistle
blower (qui tam), workers compensation (not in all states), wrongful
death, commercial litigation etc.; and if you are represented by an
attorney, you may be eligible for a cash advance or legal financing on
your pending settlement.
2. How can I benefit from lawsuit funding?
Many plaintiffs are forced to accept a low offer due to the financial
hardship that many victims experience soon after their personal injury.
An advance on your settlement will allow your attorney the time needed
to get the full value for your case.
3 - What types of cases are funded by lawsuit pre-settlement funding
companies?
A good company would provide cash advances on mostly all types of cases.
The most common types are listed in fact number 1.
4 Is good credit & employment necessary?
No, the lawsuit funding or legal financing is not based on credit
history, unless there is a pending bankruptcy. Applicant may have bad
credit score and no employment.
5. Why don't I just get a bank loan?
Traditional financial institutions, including banks, do not generally
lend solely on the merits of a lawsuit. They deem the practice of
lawsuit finance or lawsuit funding as too risky.
6. Is this a lawsuit loan?
No, this is not a loan. It is actually non-recourse cash advance on the
future value of your case. Unlike a loan, if you lose your case you owe
nothing in return.
7. Why is this not a loan?
Loans are repayable absolutely. A loan is type of financial aid which
must be repaid, with interest. But lawsuit cash advance, legal finance
or lawsuit funding is actually purchasing an interest in your
settlement. So, if you lose your case, you do not owe the funding
company anything.
8. Do I owe any up front out-of-pocket fees or costs? Are there any
additional fees, such as monthly fees, involved?
Absolutely NO! A good lawsuit financing company should not charge any
upfront fee or any application fee, processing fee or any monthly fee.
There should be only a single fee for the lawsuit loan, based upon the
length of time to settlement of your case. There will be a specific
repayment amount, due and payable only after the case resolves itself
successfully. And if the case is unsuccessful, there is no repayment
required.
9. Will I have to sign any documents? Will my attorney be required to
sign any documents?
Yes. You will need to sign an application and after you are approved for
lawsuit loan, you and your attorney will sign the Funding Agreement.
10. How big an advance on my settlement can I get?
Lawsuit cash advances are generally limited to, from 10% to 15% of the
projected case value. The minimum advance is $250 and the maximum
amount available on a single case is one million dollars.
11. How would this help me get more money for my case?
The defendant, in order to save time and money and settle the case
early, will offer you far less than what the case is really worth. If
you need immediate financial help you may feel pressured to take an
earlier (and often smaller) settlement. Lawsuit funding or so called
lawsuit loan can ease your immediate financial needs and allow your
attorney to continue to fight for a fair larger award.
12. Is the defendant insurance company notified?
No, the only parties who know about the transaction are you (the
plaintiff), your attorney handling your case, and lawsuit funding
company.
13. How long does it take for me to get the funds?
If you are eligible you can have your approval decision within 72 hours
after reviewing your case documents. Funding company will wire your
approved lawsuit funds into your bank account or can Fed Ex your funds
within 24 hours of receiving your signed Funding Agreement via fax from
your attorney.
14. How is the lawsuit cash advance paid back?
The lawsuit loan is repaid out of the financial settlement award from
the case. It is paid at the same time that the proceeds of the claim
are paid out to you.
15. What happens if I lose my case?
You owe absolutely nothing in return! The money advanced to you is
yours to keep.
16. What can I use the money for?
Anything you like. It is your money. You pay your bills, mortgage and
car payments. You can take care of education expenses of your children
and pay your medical bills.
17. What if I need more money later?
If you have not received all the money, lawsuit funding company may be
able to advance you more on your case. You can make another request for
additional settlement funding or pre-settlement funding at a later date.
18. Does the legal finance company get involved in my lawsuit case?
NO. They have no input or control in your case. They do not get
involved in the attorney-client relationship. All management and
decisions pertaining to your case are made by you and your attorney.
They have no role in the pursuit of your case. They only involvement is
to initially review your case papers, so they can evaluate the claim.
19. Is this legal?
Yes. The claim or lawsuit is yours and you own it, just like you own a
piece of property. After paying your attorney and medical liens (if
applicable), the potential remaining money is yours. You may sell or
assign it.
20. How will my attorney feel about me doing this?
Attorneys are sympathetic to the financial strain their clients can
experience. In some states, attorneys are not permitted to assist
clients financially, but they are allowed to assist in seeking
third-party financing, such as plaintiff lawsuit finance or lawsuit
funding.
You can apply for lawsuit funding without consulting your attorney
first. However your attorney plays an important role in getting your
lawsuit funding.
Attorneys are typically eager to help a client obtain plaintiff funding
because it may mean that a long legal proceeding won't end with the
client having no choice other than to accept a low settlement offer.
Applying for plaintiff funding does not interfere with the agreement
between you and your attorney in any way.
21. Why my attorney can not lend me money?
The American Bar Association prohibits attorneys from lending money to
clients for anything but case expenses. This prohibition exists to
prevent a conflict of interest from arising. If you owed your attorney
money you might feel pressured to accept your attorney's advise to
settle your case when you really did not want to accept the amount
offered. No. This would cause a conflict of interest because your
attorney would now be your creditor. In fact, the American Bar
Association expressly prohibits attorneys from loaning money to their
clients for anything other then case-related expenses.
22. Is this process confidential?
Yes the total process is confidential, private and quick. Underwriters
take a look at your case documents and determine if they think you have a
good chance of collecting on your claim. These are the same documents
that your attorney prepared to fight your case. If they think your
chances to win are good, they will offer you a cash advance.
Get details about
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| About the author |
Paul Sherman is a Legal Funding Consultant.He offers free, professional, and independent advice to plaintiffs (incl. business owners) & Attorneys. To get
Lawsuit Loan & Structured settlement funding please visit http://www.easylawsuitfunding.com |
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