RD Legal Funding News

Lawsuit Funding: Some Common Misconceptions

Fri, 18 May 2012 06:50:25 GMT

There are numerous misconceptions people have about lawsuit funding. As it becomes a more mainstream practice, it is important to debunk some of these false impressions, as there is going to be a lot of investment and job creation in this sector. Below are some of these myths, along with an explanation as to why they are false.

One major misconception is that lawsuit funding has the potential to affect the outcome of a trial since it is provided by a third party. There is concern that the funding company will pressure the attorney to settle the case prematurely so they can collect their fee. In reality, legal financing companies make a profit through funding lawsuits, not through legal strategy. Additionally, the funding company makes money while funds are outstanding, so they make more money the longer a case takes to settle.

A second common misconception is that lawsuit funding is a loan. A loan is something you have to pay back, usually in monthly payments. Plus there are usually penalties for late payments and damage to your personal credit if there is a default. Lawsuit funding is a non-recourse advance, meaning the plaintiff is under no obligation to pay back the advance if they lose their lawsuit.

If a plaintiff were to take out a loan to pay for medical bills and living expenses, they are obligated to pay back the loan with interest, even if they lose the case. This could really lead to a downhill financial spiral. The fact that lawsuit funding is a non-recourse transaction makes it a potentially better option for a plaintiff in need of financial assistance.

A third major misconception about lawsuit funding is that it takes advantage of plaintiffs. Pursuing legal action can be a major burden. In many instances, the plaintiff is out of work and is not generating any income. If they are in a dire situation where they cannot borrow from credit unions or banks, and have maxed out their credit cards, then lawsuit funding may be their only option. Also, because lawsuit funding is generally a non-recourse transaction, they don’t have to worry about paying back the advance, even if their case results in an unfavorable outcome.

About the Author:

Lulaine Compere is a writer and research analyst at RD Legal Funding, LLC, a specialty lawsuit funding company based out of Northern New Jersey.

Today Marks Deadline for Black Farmers Discrimination Litigation Claims

Fri, 18 May 2012 06:50:25 GMT

Today is the last day to file claims under the historic Black Farmers Discrimination Litigation case. Settlements will not be awarded until all claims have been received and reviewed, which means a late 2012 date for settlement payments at the earliest, but likely much later. RD Legal Funding, LLC (“RD Legal”), a leading provider of lawsuit funding, can provide legal financing to qualifying plaintiffs as soon as their settlement amounts are finalized.

This landmark class action, also known as Pigford II, accused the USDA of systematically practicing racial discrimination against black farmers who applied for farm loans between 1983 and 1997. This resulted in many black farmers losing their farms or being forced to operate on a smaller scale.

With major class action settlements, it often takes months, sometimes years, for involved parties to actually receive their settlement awards, even after the settlement amount has been finalized. RD Legal’s proprietary Fee Acceleration program was designed specifically to bridge this gap by purchasing legal receivables and settlements.

“Farmers could be waiting many more years before they ever see a dime from this settlement. With our post-settlement financing solutions, plaintiffs can receive compensation within days, not months or years," said Joseph Genovesi, Senior Vice President of Deal Origination at RD Legal.

Plaintiffs in the Black Farmers Discrimination Litigation should contact RD Legal at 1-800-565-5177 for more information about their plaintiff settlement funding solutions. Interim settlement financing does not require any kind of payments until the settlement is paid; there are no monthly interest or principal payments, nor are there any upfront points or fees. Once the necessary documentation is received, RD Legal can wire funds within days. RD Legal provides personalized, streamlined service and quick turnaround.

Founded in 1997, RD Legal has established itself as one of the nation's leading providers of lawsuit settlement funding to attorneys and plaintiffs. For more information about RD Legal and their litigation funding solutions, visit their website at http://www.legalfunding.com. To speak directly with a legal funding specialist, contact them toll-free at 1-800-565-5177.

Written by David Smethie, Deal Origination Manager at RD Legal Funding, LLC

GTLA Annual Convention 2012

Fri, 18 May 2012 06:50:25 GMT

RD Legal Funding is pleased to announce that representatives from our company will be exhibiting at the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association Annual Convention on May 10th and 11th. The convention is taking place at Loew's Hotel in Atlanta. If you are attending the conference, please stop by our booth to speak with either Joseph Genovesi or Richard Heilshorn.

Special events include the 6th Annual President’s Cup Golf Tournament and the Annual President’s Gala, featuring the Yacht Rock Revue. You can view a detailed online brochure of the convention here.

If you or any of your clients have a settled case that is taking a long time to pay out, please contact us to discuss our post-settlement financing solutions. To get in touch with a legal funding specialist, please call us at 1-800-565-5177 or use our online contact form.

Litigation Funding In China

Fri, 18 May 2012 06:50:25 GMT

China has always been a place where doing business was somewhat of a mystery. Up until a few years ago, the Chinese economy was completely controlled by the state. While countries have been doing business with China for many years, only recently did China loosen the shackles it had on the economy, which led to companies moving there to do business.

Since that point, China has been the place to be, and litigation funding is the latest arrival to the “do business in China party.” Litigation funding is a legal and financial development that has been expanding worldwide in recent years. In countries like South Africa, Australia, and the United Kingdom, litigation funding has been used to help plaintiffs pursue cases.

In the United States, the litigation funding sector has been growing with more companies and investors jumping in the fray. Also, in the United States, more lawyers are becoming open to the concept of litigation funding due to the economic hardship that has affected their financial status and the benefits it can bring to their business and clients.

Recently, there was a presentation by CML Recruitment about litigation funding coming to China. In their presentation, they explain the benefits of litigation funding to people whose access to the legal system has been limited. China, because of its size, growing population, and evolving legal structure, has been very attractive to business. The opportunities it provides to companies seeking to move there can be numerous.

At the same time, according to many reports by several media outlets, the workers and common people in China face low wages and corruption. China’s need to compete with economic powers like the U.S. and Europe has led to a situation where abuses are rife throughout the country. Even though the government has loosened the reins, the repression tactics against its citizens can still be very brutal, especially on the workers. Litigation funding would allow claims to be filed which otherwise could not be due to lack of funding.

Litigation funding can be a win-win situation for China. It will lead a pathway for people seeking justice, while showing the world the evolvement of the Chinese legal system. While companies love the benefits of moving to China, there are some drawbacks, such as pursuing cases against corrupt officials. There are talks in the legal funding community of expanding funding to companies who are seeking justice against other companies. That development would help corporations in China and would show confidence to world about China’s legal system.

About the Author:

Lulaine Compere is a writer and research analyst at RD Legal Funding, LLC, a specialty legal funding company based out of Northern New Jersey.

BP Oil Spill Settlement Granted Preliminary Approval, RD Legal Funding to Provide Settlement Funding to Attorneys & Plaintiffs

Fri, 18 May 2012 06:50:25 GMT

Cresskill, NJ: Yesterday, U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier granted preliminary approval of the BP oil spill settlement, which includes the medical claims settlement and the economic claims settlement. Now that preliminary approval has been granted, the Court Supervised Settlement Program will begin functioning on June 4th. RD Legal Funding, LLC (“RD Legal”), a leading provider of lawsuit settlement funding solutions, can now advance settlement awards to plaintiffs and attorneys with BP settlements.

With major MDLs and class action settlements, it often takes months, if not years, for involved parties to actually receive their settlement awards, even after the settlement amount has been finalized. RD Legal’s proprietary Fee Acceleration program was designed specifically to bridge this gap by purchasing legal receivables and settlements.

Attorneys and plaintiffs no longer need to wait for slow-paying defendants, administrative delays, or court approvals of fee distributions. RD Legal has the financial resources to fund legal fees up to $20 million and beyond.

“Over the past 3 months, we have advanced over $7 million to attorneys and plaintiffs on settled cases,” said Joseph Genovesi, Senior Vice President of Deal Origination at RD Legal. “If you are an attorney or a plaintiff with a settled lawsuit and you don’t want to wait months or years to receive your money, we are ready and able to help you today.”

Attorneys representing plaintiffs in the BP Oil Spill Litigation, as well as plaintiffs themselves, should contact RD Legal at 1-800-565-5177 for more information about settlement funding solutions. Interim lawsuit settlement funding does not require any kind of payments until the settlement is paid; there are no monthly interest or principal payments, nor are there any upfront points or fees. Once the necessary documentation is received, RD Legal can wire funds within days. RD Legal provides personalized, streamlined service and quick turnaround.

Founded in 1997, RD Legal has established itself as one of the nation's leading providers of post settlement lawsuit funding to attorneys and plaintiffs. Contact RD Legal at 1-800-565-5177 to speak with a settlement funding expert, or visit http://www.legalfunding.com.

Yaz and Yasmin Litigants Offered Settlement Funding by RD Legal Funding

Fri, 18 May 2012 06:50:25 GMT

Deadlines for lawsuits over side effects of the birth control drugs Yaz and Yasmin have been moved back another 90 days, the third time deadlines have been delayed this year. The extension by Chief Judge David R. Herndon, of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois, allows settlement negotiations to continue between Bayer and lawyers for the more than 11,500 lawsuits that have been lodged against the drugs' manufacturer, Bayer. The suits allege that Bayer failed to adequately warn about the drugs' potentially fatal side effects including the risk of blood clots, pulmonary embolism, and gallbladder disease. Once settlement amounts have been determined, RD Legal Funding, LLC ("RD Legal"), a leading provider of litigation funding solutions, will provide legal settlement funding to both plaintiffs and their attorneys.

Birth control pills work by combining estrogen and progestin to alter women's hormone levels. However, birth control pills made in the 1960s using high levels of estrogen had been proven to cause elevated risks of stroke. Yasmin, approved by the F.D.A. in 2001, and Yaz, approved in 2006, combined drospirenone, a new synthetic form of progestin, with smaller amounts of estrogen than competitors' products. Yaz became the U.S.'s top-selling birth control pill thanks in part to multi-million dollar ad campaigns promoting the drug to women under 35 as the birth control pill that also combatted premenstrual depression and acne. Bayer's contraceptives generated $1.58 billion in sales in 2010.

However, a study of 1.3 million Danish women published in October 2011 in the British Medical Journal reported that women taking Yaz or Yasmin had double the risk of blood clots, compared with women taking the older contraceptives.

Bayer responded that the study and others showing elevated risks of stroke with blood clots in the legs and lungs had methodological problems. A Bayer-funded study concluded that cardiovascular risks in women taking Bayer products were acceptable and comparable to other birth control pills. But Bayer's annual report, released in February 2012, implied that the company had settled at least 70 Yaz and Yasmin related cases.

On April 10th, 2012, the FDA ordered Bayer and other contraceptive manufacturers to amend the blood-clot warnings on their labels. For pills such as Yaz and Yasmin that contain drospirenone, warning labels must state that researchers have found they may triple the risk for blood clots. The most recent news indicates that Bayer has agreed to pay $142 million to settle 651 Yaz and Yasmin related lawsuits.

Attorneys representing plaintiffs in the Yaz and Yasmin lawsuits, as well as plaintiffs themselves, should contact RD Legal at 1-800-565-5177 or visit http://www.legalfunding.com for more information about settlement financing.

Founded in 1997, RD Legal has established itself as one of the nation's leading providers of lawsuit settlement funding to attorneys and plaintiffs. Interim settlement financing does not require any kind of payments until the settlement is paid; there are no monthly interest or principal payments, no upfront points or fees. Once the necessary documentation is received, RD Legal can wire funds within days. RD Legal provides personalized service and quick turnaround.

SOURCES:

http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/ucm274292.htm
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/26/health/26contracept.html
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-04-13/bayer-said-to-pay-110-million-in-yaz-birth-control-cases.html
http://www.aboutlawsuits.com/yaz-settlements-reached-in-lawsuits-25942

Starting A Law Firm: How Lawsuit Financing Can Help

Fri, 18 May 2012 06:50:25 GMT

The hard road of law school is finally over. You managed to pass the bar exam and you are now certified to practice law. Once the pomp and circumstance is done, the real journey begins. The motivations that drove you to take the road to become a lawyer are still what motivate you to get up in the morning, but now reality has set in.

The countdown to paying the student loans back begins, the phone hasn't rung after sending out 50 resumes, and the volunteer work and minimal employment you have isn't going to cut it anymore. Some people might panic, but you decide to harness some American entrepreneurial spirit and start your own law firm.

You take cases on a contingency basis because you are fighting on the side of the down trodden against well-funded corporations for a whole host of issues. Your first case is going well, and the corporation offers to settle to be done with the case. You balk at the settlement because you can do better, and the plaintiff deserves better.

However, bills have to be paid and the plaintiff is starting to look like he is going to cave for the first deal presented. Even though it's in his best interest to keep fighting, it's his choice to make. For a lawyer in the old days, begging the bank for a loan or a line of credit was the only way to defeat this problem. But these days, lawsuit financing is another option.

Banks are notorious for how tough they can be when loaning money to small businesses. They have a long due diligence process and have to consult what seems like endless amounts of people before a decision is finally made.

Lawsuit financing can be a much simpler process. A funding company evaluates the case and then decides whether or not to fund. If the company decides to finance the case, monies can often be released in a matter of days. Legal funding can be broken down into two classes: pre-settlement funding and post-settlement funding.

Pre settlement financing is an advance that companies give to lawyers and/or plaintiffs before the case settles to help them fight the case and continue living until an acceptable settlement comes through. Post settlement funding is an advance on a case that has already settled. Both pre and post settlement advances are often non-recourse transactions, meaning that payment is only due if there is a favorable outcome. This is unlike a loan, which must be paid back regardless of outcome.

Litigation can take incredibly long depending on the type of case and the defendant. Sometimes it can take years for a case to settle. And even after the settlement, it can take many months before the legal fees are actually paid out.

If you are a trial lawyer just getting started, a healthy knowledge of lawsuit financing can be a huge plus. Being able to advance money on pending cases can smooth out irregular cash flow and allow you to keep fighting to get the settlement your client deserves.

Written by David Smethie, Deal Origination Manager at RD Legal Funding, LLC

RD Legal Funding Offers Settlement Funding to BP Oil Spill Plaintiffs and Attorneys Facing Further Threats to Gulf Fishing Areas

Fri, 18 May 2012 06:50:25 GMT

Cresskill, NJ: The two-year anniversary of the BP oil spill was marked by additional delays in the settlement of ongoing litigation and reports of new threats to the Gulf’s commercial fisheries industry. Florida’s Attorney General asked a federal court to delay granting preliminary approval of the settlement and U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier in New Orleans is lengthening the proposal review period. Meanwhile, area fishermen and researchers at the University of South Florida (USF) and Louisiana State University (LSU) are reporting mutated Gulf marine wildlife. This new threat to the beleaguered Gulf’s recovery is increasing pressure on already stressed commercial fishermen and local businesses. RD Legal Funding, LLC (“RD Legal”), a leading provider of lawsuit funding solutions, will offer settlement funding to plaintiffs and their attorneys as soon as their settlement amounts are determined.

A USF study released last summer found more sick fish in the area of the 2010 oil spill than in other areas. Scientists and commercial fishermen are describing shrimp and crabs without eyes, crabs with their shells soft instead of hard, full grown crabs that are one-fifth their normal size, clawless crabs, and crabs with shells that don't have their usual spikes. Damaged immune systems are being held responsible for the stranding of more than 600 dolphins along Gulf beaches since the spill, ten times the normal number for some areas. LSU oceanography professor James Cowan points to chronic exposure to oil and dispersant impacting Gulf marine wildlife’s genomes and compromising immune systems.

BP’s Macondo well blew out on April 20th, 2010, triggering the explosion of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig, the deaths of 11 rig workers, and a gusher that released more than 200 million gallons of oil into the Gulf of Mexico, the worst offshore oil spill in the nation's history.

BP funded the Gulf Coast Claims Facility with $20 billion to compensate businesses that suffered disaster-related economic damages. More than 221,000 claims were processed for over $6 billion.

On March 2nd, 2012 BP agreed to settle additional lawsuits brought by more than 100,000 fishermen who lost work, cleanup workers who got sick, and others. A court-supervised administrator took over the claims process on March 8th, 2012. BP and plaintiffs' attorneys presented a federal judge with the formal terms of a proposed class-action settlement to resolve these lawsuits on April 14th, 2012.

Concerned that Florida claimants not residing in Florida’s Panhandle and west coast might be excluded from the settlement, Florida Attorney General Pamela Jo Bondi requested that New Orleans U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier delay preliminary approval of the settlement.

Attorneys representing plaintiffs in the BP Oil Spill Litigation, as well as plaintiffs themselves, should contact RD Legal at 1-800-565-5177 for more information about settlement funding solutions. Interim lawsuit settlement funding does not require any kind of payments until the settlement is paid; there are no monthly interest or principal payments, no upfront points or fees. Once the necessary documentation is received, RD Legal can wire funds within days. RD Legal provides personalized service and quick turnaround.

Founded in 1997, RD Legal has established itself as one of the nation's leading providers of post settlement funding to attorneys and plaintiffs. Contact RD Legal at 1-800-565-5177 to speak with a settlement funding expert, or visit http://www.legalfunding.com.

SOURCES:

http://www.tampabay.com/news/environment/wildlife/usf-study-finds-more-sick-fish-in-oil-spill-area-than-rest-of-gulf-of/1210495

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57415781/judge-asked-to-sign-off-on-bp-spill-settlement/

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/plaintiffs-steering-committee-and-bp-finalize-settlement-2012-04-18

http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/southeast/2012/04/16/243614.htm

http://www.shreveporttimes.com/article/DG/20120415/NEWS01/204150348/Settling-up-Big-Oil

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/04/13/us-bp-settlement-florida-idUSBRE83C1K720120413

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57415781/judge-asked-to-sign-off-on-bp-spill-settlement/

http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2012/04/201241682318260912.html

How Legal Settlement Funding Can Help the Struggling Plaintiff's Lawyer

Fri, 18 May 2012 06:50:25 GMT

Lawyers are facing a tough time in today's harsh economic environment. Many are unemployed because of the layoffs due to rough economic conditions or the changing legal landscape. Even in law schools, many students are facing dire prospects when they get out of school because of the lack of jobs.

It seems like it was only yesterday when the mantra for students was a college education guaranteed you a good job. Today, it's going to take more than a college education to get a good job, and law is no exception. The industry is changing for almost all practice areas, and with globalization, more people abroad have the skills to do the job. Recent law school graduates now see a shrinking landscape in a once thought to be safe career.

Some have started suing law schools because of claims of deception and fraud. For the unemployed lawyer, they can use the information in this post to practice doing what they love and try and eke out a living. For lawyers in the civil litigation field, they might be a good fit for legal settlement funding. A struggling lawyer with a good case that ends up settling can get an advance on the settled case from a legal funding company. That advance can then help him take on another case, which will help build his reputation and practice.

The lawyer can look at legal funding as a seed to help their business grow, because in life, and specifically in law, money is an essential asset to winning. For an injured client who has been scarred for life, or for the mother who lost her job through sexual harassment and has no way to feed her kids, the good fight doesn't matter if they have no hope of winning. A defendant, especially a big corporation, is well funded and possibly insured to fight lawsuits from aggrieved parties.

Legal funding can help even the odds between a high powered defendant and a plaintiff's attorney. Even the most talented and persuasive attorney needs money for essential expenses. Filing for documents, buying subscriptions for databases to research cases, gas, faxes, court trips, expert witnesses, and other expenses are necessary to do a thorough job.

A lawyer always needs to be prepared to take a case to court. If the necessary tools to do so are not available, an attorney is sometimes forced to take an early, low ball settlement. Legal funding can help provide the lawyer with immediate access to capital so he can pursue a case to its fullest and build his practice. In today's harsh economic landscape, legal settlement funding may be more important than ever before.

Written by David Smethie, Deal Origination Manager at RD Legal Funding, LLC

Mass Torts Made Perfect Attorney Conference-2012 in Las Vegas

Fri, 18 May 2012 06:50:25 GMT

We are pleased to announce that members from our company will be attending the Mass Torts Made Perfect attorney conference at the Wynn in sunny Las Vegas, Nevada on April 19th and 20th. Joseph Genovesi and David Smethie will be at the RD Legal Funding booth.

We have an array of snack foods that we are giving out-Pringles, Oreos, Cheetos, Goldfish, Nutri Grain bars, granola bars, Sun Chips, and many others. Please feel free to swing by our booth for a snack and to say hello.

If you have any settled cases that are taking a long time to payout, we would love to discuss our post-settlement lawsuit financing solutions. We look forward to seeing you there!

Hispanic Farmers Facing Financial Hardship Offered Lawsuit Financing by RD Legal Funding

Fri, 18 May 2012 06:50:25 GMT

Cresskill, NJ: Qualified Hispanic American farmers who were discriminated against by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) between 1981 and 2000 can receive lawsuit funding from RD Legal Funding, LLC (“RD Legal”) as soon as their settlement amounts have been finalized. RD Legal has been providing lawsuit funding solutions to both plaintiffs and attorneys since 1997.

The US government’s recent establishment of a claims process does not provide a time frame for when qualified claimants can expect compensation. Meanwhile, time has already run out for thousands who lost their farms due to the discriminatory practices of the United States Department of Agriculture. Settlement funding can help qualified Hispanic farmers who are experiencing financial hardship.

Guadalupe L. Garcia is the named plaintiff in the suit against the USDA, of Garcia v. Vilsack. More than 82,000 Hispanic farmers could be affected in the settlement, more than 90 percent of them owning small family farms. The number of Spanish, Hispanic, Latino, or Puerto Rican origin farm operators has increased by 50.8 percent in the continental U.S., from 33,450 in 1997 to 50,443 in 2002. With a 50.8 percent increase in the continental U.S., Hispanics are the fastest growing minority group among American farm operators.

Some of these farmers, like Guadalupe Garcia, trace their history back to Spain’s exploration and settlement of the American Southwest. They are responsible for introducing horses and cattle to this country as well as Spanish agricultural traditions including open-range cattle ranching.

Garcia’s family has lived in the Southwest longer than the United States has existed. An educated agronomist, Garcia has his Bachelors and Masters of Science degrees in Agronomy. From 1969 – 1973 he taught agronomy throughout Central America through a joint program between Oregon State University and the United States Agency for International Development.

In 1973 Garcia returned to New Mexico to farm the family’s 626 acres with his father and sons. Garcia was repeatedly denied operating loans, despite a positive cash flow and good collateral and excellent experience in agronomy. After decades of discrimination, he watched as the farm was foreclosed upon and then purchased by a white neighbor for half its assessed value. The same neighbor laughed at Garcia years earlier, saying it was only a matter of time until he got control of the property. Now Garcia farms on rented land and hopes the settlement will make farming a brighter prospect for future Hispanic farmers.

Others farmers in the lawsuit started as farm workers, often migrant day laborers following the seasonal crop patterns, who dreamed of someday owning their own land. As Maria de Lourdes Gonzalez testified, “Like my own family, the Hispanic farmers I worked with (in the California Latino Agriculture Association) started from scratch. They knew what it meant to work, and they worked hard. They just needed the same tools and assistance that FSA provided for Anglo farmers. That’s all they asked for.” (http://www.garciaclassaction.org)

But the system was stacked against Hispanic farmers. An entrenched “old-white-boy” system of local farmers ruling on FSA loans led to systematic discrimination against women and minority groups including Hispanics, Native Americans, and African Americans. White farmers were given preference for loans and assistance.

In 2000 a group of Hispanic farmers sued the government, claiming widespread and institutional discrimination from 1981 to 2000 by government agents who denied or delayed crucial farm loans, resulting in the loss of many family farms. Although the suit was denied class action status by the Supreme Court, in 2011, the Hispanic farmers were offered a settlement with a limit of $50,000 per claim. The amount offered to settle the case, $1.33 billion, was about 59 percent less than was offered to African American farmers. The government settled similar claims of discrimination with Native American groups for $3.4 billion, amounting to $250,000 per farmer on average.

In February 2012 Hispanic farmers and women farmers were offered an out-of-court review process for settling their claims which lifted the ceiling on settlements to $250,000. Certain plaintiffs may also qualify for a loan forgiveness and tax relief. Nonetheless, plaintiffs will likely have to wait months to receive their settlement funds.

Hispanic farmer plaintiffs experiencing financial hardship are urged to contact RD Legal as soon as their settlement amounts are finalized. Interim settlement financing does not require any kind of payments until the settlement is paid; there are no monthly interest or principal payments, no upfront points or fees. Once the necessary documentation is received, RD Legal can wire funds within days. RD Legal provides personalized service and quick turnaround.

Founded in 1997, RD Legal has established itself as one of the nation's leading providers of lawsuit settlement funding to attorneys and plaintiffs. Contact RD Legal at 1-800-565-5177 or for more information visit http://www.legalfunding.com.

Sources

http://texasaggieheroes.net/Project_Texas_Aggie_Heroes/testimonies/20080514_TestimonyGarciaLupe.pdf

http://texasaggieheroes.net/Project_Texas_Aggie_Heroes/testimonies/20080514_TestimonyGarciaLupe.pdf

http://www.garciaclassaction.org/

https://farmerclaims.gov/FarmerClaims/farmer.do

http://www.npr.org/2012/02/20/147061447/-can-usda-make-good-with-female-hispanic-farmers

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ushcc-applauds-expansion-of-usda-hispanic-farmers-and-ranchers-claims-process-138586989.html

http://www.fsa.usda.gov/FSA/webapp?area=home&subject=oued&topic=ops-ha

http://blog.latinovations.com/2011/02/28/hispanic-farmers-reject-billion-dollar-settlement-from-federal-government/

http://www.jsri.msu.edu/pdfs/articles/Latino%20Farmers.pdf

Post Settlement Funding for Attorneys Working on a Contingency Fee Basis

Fri, 18 May 2012 06:50:25 GMT

Lawsuits are expensive and can take a long time to get resolved. Attorneys working on a contingency fee basis get paid only after resolution of the lawsuit. Unfortunately, even after a lawsuit settles, it can take several months, and in some cases more than a year, before the attorney actually receives his hard earned legal fee. Why is this so? A few reasons include administrative delays, court approvals, and slow paying defendants.

People sometimes forget that life goes on before, during, and after a case reaches a settlement. And it is certainly not cheap to run a law firm. There are numerous expenses, such as employee salaries, rent, advertising, and expert witness fees, just to name a few. These expenses pile up while the attorney waits to get paid. Not only that, but ideally, an ambitious plaintiff attorney would like to continue to grow his practice, not just tread water fighting to stay afloat.

Fortunately, there are a few solutions to combat irregular cash flow. An attorney can obtain a line of credit through the bank. Unfortunately, banks and other traditional lending institutions generally do not consider a lawyer’s caseload as collateral, so a traditional line will often not be enough to sustain the law firm.

There are specialty finance companies, often owned and operated by attorneys, who understand the difficulties that contingency fee lawyers face. Unlike banks, they provide lines of credit based on past income generated and current case inventory value. This is generally an option for well established firms with a strong track record and a large, diverse inventory of cases in the pipeline.

Rates for this specialty line of credit are significantly higher than what a bank would charge. However, because they consider the lawyer’s case inventory as collateral, they can usually advance a much larger sum of money.

But what about the plaintiff attorney that is just getting started, or the personal injury lawyer who is rebounding after a couple of difficult years? In these cases, a line of credit would most likely not be an option. If an attorney has settled cases but is still waiting to receive the fees, post settlement attorney funding, also known as fee acceleration, can be the solution to the lawyer’s cash flow problems.

Post settlement funding is not a loan. A factoring company that specializes in legal financing purchases the settled legal receivable at a discount, providing the attorney with immediate capital. When the fee finally pays out, the factoring company receives the settlement award. The attorney can use this money for any purpose, such as paying employee salaries, launching a new advertising campaign, hiring new talent, or paying day-to-day operating expenses.

Suing Can Be Expensive: Lawsuit Funding Can Help

Fri, 18 May 2012 06:50:25 GMT

Bad things happen in life, such as getting into a car accident or getting fired from a job for no good reason. The aggrieved party has the right under the law to sue for any damages they feel has ruined any part of their life, including reputation, finances, family relationships, or mental anguish.

These are just a few in a long list of things people can and do sue for to get some kind of retribution. While it is anyone’s right under the law to sue, it is not free, and depending on whom they are suing, the outcome can be really fast or painfully slow. If the defense is a well-funded corporation, the process may take quite a long time.

To sue someone, it should be said that the aggrieved person should feel so violated that suing was their only option. Most lawyers taking on civil cases work on a contingency basis, but once the process starts, the bills start piling up. First, because the lawyer is taking the case on a contingency basis, he is expecting a big payoff at the end assuming the case settles. Next, doing the actual nuts and bolts of the case, such as phone calls, research, faxes, and hiring expert witnesses cost money and time.

Then there are other expenses like gas and court costs that can add up pretty quickly. If the case drags on for longer than the estimated time schedule-which frequently happens-the costs might start to become unmanageable.

These are just the lawyer’s costs. With many personal injury cases, the plaintiff cannot work. Bills pile up quickly. Unfortunately, bills cannot be paid with promissory notes of future money. The plaintiff may try going to a bank or credit union for a loan, but that process usually takes a long time.

Both plaintiffs and attorneys have other options to help them pursue their cases. There are lawsuit funding companies that provide pre-settlement financing. This type of funding is not a loan that has to be paid back, but a non-recourse transaction where payment is only due if the case settles.

This is a common choice for plaintiffs. Because the factoring company is taking a significant risk, the rates are generally quite high. Monthly compounding of a high interest rate over a long period of time makes this an expensive option.

In some instances, such as personal injury and class action cases, it can take a long time to get paid even after the case has settled. This is where post-settlement financing becomes an option. A lawsuit funding company purchases your legal receivable at a discount and advances you money. Because the case is already settled, the interest rates are usually significantly lower than pre-settlement advances.

Why Lawsuit Funding Is Important For Many Start-Up Law Firms

Fri, 18 May 2012 06:50:25 GMT

Most people assume that lawyers live extravagant, lavish lifestyles. They have a well-paid job, fulfilling work, and a prestigious perch in society. In reality, this is an inaccurate picture of the lives most lawyers actually live, especially plaintiff attorneys that work on a contingency fee basis.

Many lawyers are just regular people going through the day to day struggles like the rest of us. Those that start their own firms usually have it especially hard. The prestigious and expensive education paid for mainly through student loans is still on their back. Not to mention starting a law firm is not easy with expenses like rent, advertising, employee salaries, expert witnesses, subscriptions, association fees, insurance, and numerous others.

Starting a business is an expensive venture, and a law firm is certainly no different. There is only so much money you can borrow from family and friends. You can take on partners who have money, but you are giving up a significant portion of the company and its proceeds.

Ultimately, it is almost impossible to start a law firm without taking on a heavy load of debt. The traditional route for most lawyers is the bank. They write up a business plan, go to the bank, and meet with the loan officer who will evaluate the attorney’s background and financial status.

Many young lawyers do not have sufficient credit to qualify for a loan. Those that are fortunate enough to qualify for a loan can still face financial duress, as the line of credit established by the bank is often not sufficient to cover the necessary costs of running a law firm.

This is where specialty litigation finance companies come into play. They can provide what is known in the legal financing industry as attorney post-settlement funding (also known as lawsuit funding for lawyers). This is where the litigation financing company purchases an attorney’s settled legal fees at a discount, providing the lawyer with working capital that would otherwise take months or even years for them to receive. This allows attorneys working on a contingency fee basis to continue building their practice with minimized stress of financial downfall.

RD Legal Funding Offers Lawsuit Financing to Plaintiff Attorneys with Avandia Settlements

Fri, 18 May 2012 06:50:25 GMT

Cresskill, NJ: Even after published studies described Avandia’s dangerous side effects, Type 2 diabetes sufferers, who are at the highest risk of developing fatal heart disease, were prescribed the drug in order to lower their blood sugar levels. Tens of thousands of suits have been settled by GlaxoSmithKline to resolve claims that its drug Avandia increased the risk of heart attack in Type 2 diabetes patients. Plaintiff attorneys with Avandia settlements, who are still waiting to get paid, are encouraged to contact RD Legal Funding, LLC (“RD Legal”), one of the nation's leading providers of lawsuit funding to attorneys.

Avandia (rosiglitazone) proved a bitter pill for Type 2 diabetes sufferers who were already at increased risk of heart attack. In Type 2 diabetes, either the body does not produce enough insulin or the cells ignore the insulin which the body requires to use glucose for energy. Avandia helped control diabetics’ blood sugar by making the body more sensitive to its own insulin. First approved for use in the United States in 1998, Avandia became the world’s best-selling drug for treating Type 2 diabetes.

Heart disease and stroke are already the number one causes of death and disability among people with Type 2 diabetes. However, even after a 2007 study linked Avandia to increased levels of heart attack and stroke in Type 2 diabetes sufferers, the drug continued to be prescribed.

According to some experts, Avandia may have caused between 60,000 and 200,000 heart attacks and deaths due to cardiovascular problems in the U.S. from 1999 to 2006. The lead author of the 2007 study published in The New England Journal of Medicine, Dr. Steven E. Nilsson, estimated that Avandia users faced a 43 percent higher risk of a heart attack or other cardiovascular events. A 2008 report by the Federal Drug Administration implicated Avandia in an estimated 83,000 heart attacks. Other studies cited additional negative side effects caused by Avandia including stroke, osteoporosis, bone fracture and liver failure.

GlaxoSmithKline’s profits from Avandia were $3.2 billion in 2006, but dropped to $1.19 billion by 2009. The company paid a $2.36 billion charge in 2010 to settle some 10,000 of 13,000 Avandia civil lawsuits it was facing in the U.S., as well as investigations over its antidepressant Paxil and manufacturing problems in its Puerto Rico plant. In November 2011, the pharmaceutical giant agreed to pay the U.S. government $3 billion to resolve civil and criminal investigations alleging that the company had paid doctors and manipulated medical research to promote Avandia. In January 2012, GlaxoSmithKline agreed to resolve more than 20,000 cases alleging their diabetes drug Avandia causes heart attacks.

RD Legal can provide Avandia plaintiff attorneys with interim post-settlement funding, which provides immediate capital on settlements. Lawsuit financing does not require any kind of payments until the fee is paid; there are no monthly interest or principal payments, no upfront points or fees. Once the necessary documentation is received, RD Legal can wire funds within several days. RD Legal provides personalized service and quick turnaround.

Founded in 1997, RD Legal has established itself as one of the nation's leading providers of lawsuit settlement funding to attorneys and plaintiffs. Contact RD Legal at 1-800-565-5177 for more information.

SOURCES:

“Avandia (Drug),” New York Times, updated November 3, 2011 (collection of articles and sources);http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/health/diseasesconditionsandhealthtopics/avandiadrug/index.html

“Glaxo Settles 20,000 Lawsuits over Avandia, Lawyer Says,” February 14, 2012, by Jef Feeley: http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-02-14/glaxo-settles-20-000-lawsuits-over-avandia-lawyer-says.html

“Glaxo to pay $3 billion settlement of Avandia, U.S. sales cases,” 6th November, 2011, http://avandiarecallnews.com

http://avandiaclassaction.com/avandia-lawsuit

http://avandia.lawsuitinformation.org

http://avandiaclassactionlawsuit.org/category/overview-of-avandia

http://www.youhavealawyer.com/avandia/heart-risk-timeline

http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/Diabetes/WhyDiabetesMatters/Cardiovascular-Disease-Diabetes_UCM_313865_Article.jsp

RD Legal Funding Offers Financial Assistance to American Women Farmers Facing Financial Hardship until USDA Settlements Received

Fri, 18 May 2012 06:50:25 GMT

Cresskill, NJ: American women farmers who were discriminated against by the USDA will soon have a process for settling their claims out-of-court. However while the Love v. Vilsack plaintiffs’ case has been dragging through the courts for 12 years (since October of 2000) many have already lost their farms to foreclosure. After the details of the settlement process have been finalized, it could be at least another year or more before the plaintiffs receive their settlements. For plaintiffs experiencing financial hardship, RD Legal Funding, LLC (“RD Legal”), a New Jersey based settlement funding company, will provide lawsuit financing by purchasing their legal receivables as soon as settlement amounts are finalized.

Today women are the fastest growing group among American farmers. Thanks to the brave women who first brought their discrimination cases against the USDA, farming may become a more viable way of life for future generations of female farmers.

"This has been a decades-long struggle for me and my family. This bill is important for future women farmers -- for daughters and granddaughters who want to continue farming," Rosemary Love, the named plaintiff in the Love v Vilsack case, told a reporter in 2010 (http://www.capitalpress.com/print/JHag-womensuit-121809). The plaintiffs tell their heartbreaking stories on the Equality for Women Farmers Facebook page:

A third generation sheep farmer from Harlem, Montana (population 2435 according to the 2010 census), Love was denied an operating loan in 1981. She eventually got a loan for half of what she requested, with liquidation of her farm as collateral. According to Jerry Hagstrom of AGNEWS online, a loan supervisor came to her hospital bed to demand payment while she was recovering from surgery for cancer.

Gail Lennon, another of the original plaintiffs, was a farmer from Lookout, California (population 24 according to the 2010 census). She was required to provide excessive collateral for a loan only to have it put into a supervised account. Further discrimination forced her into foreclosure.

A Loudon County, Virginia loan officer called Linda Bara-Weaver “cutie” and “honey” before denying her a loan application, which was then given to her husband. The loan was turned down after she refused the loan officer’s sexual advances. After her husband’s death, a Flagler County, Florida loan officer asked Bara-Weaver how she expected to farm without a man and then threw her application in the garbage.

According to attorney Kristine Dunne with the Arent Fox law firm, Love v Vilsack counsel for plaintiffs, local FSA officers repeatedly denied female farmers their proper consideration (source: Delta Farm Press):

•    Women farmers were refused application forms, while the men standing in line with them were able to get the forms.

•    Women farmers were told by USDA officials that farming isn’t women’s work and to instead leave it to their husband, brother or father.

•    Women farmers received applications but were denied loans although they were equally as qualified as their male neighbors who received loans.

•    Women who initially received loans either through their husband or their father were denied subsequent loans or servicing on their existing farm loans.

While the African-American plaintiffs receiving redress through the Pigford settlements have been guaranteed a halt to new foreclosure actions while their claims are pending, American women farmers facing foreclosure are not similarly protected. Women farmer plaintiffs experiencing financial hardship are urged to contact RD Legal as soon as their settlement amounts are finalized.

Interim settlement financing can help women farmers sustain their farming way of life. Post-settlement financing does not require any kind of payments until the fee is paid; there are no monthly interest or principal payments, no upfront points or fees. Once the necessary documentation is received, RD Legal can wire funds within one to two days. RD Legal provides personalized service and quick turnaround.

Founded in 1997, RD Legal has established itself as one of the nation's leading providers of lawsuit settlement funding to attorneys and plaintiffs. Contact RD Legal Funding at 1-800-565-5177 for more information visit http://www.legalfunding.com.

USDA to Celebrate 150th Birthday With Days to Go to Deadline for Black Farmers Discrimination Settlement

Fri, 18 May 2012 06:50:25 GMT

Cresskill, NJ: The USDA celebrates its 150th anniversary on May 15th four days after the May 11th final deadline for Pigford II plaintiffs to file their claims to be eligible for an award under the Black Farmers Discrimination Litigation Settlement, also known as "the Black Farmers Case" or Pigford II.

This landmark class action settlement claimed the USDA systematically practiced racial discrimination against black farmers who applied for farm loans and assistance between 1983 and 1997. No claims will be awarded until all claims have been received and reviewed which means a late 2012 date for settlement payments at the earliest, but likely much later. RD Legal Funding, LLC (“RD Legal”), a post-settlement financing company that provides funding for lawsuits, is offering immediate compensation to qualified plaintiffs to help ease their financial hardship.

President Abraham Lincoln founded the USDA on May 15th, 1862. In January of 1863 he issued the Emancipation Proclamation, freeing four million black slaves, the majority of whom dreamed of owning and farming their own land. In 1910, nearly one million black farmers in the U.S. owned a total of 15 million acres; by 1969 they held only 6 million acres. In 1920, blacks owned 14% of the nation's farms; today, there are only 18,000 black farmers, representing less than 1% of all farms (pbs.org/itvs/homecoming/history.html). According to one estimate, black family farms are disappearing at the rate of 1000 acres per day. (brasschecktv.com/videos/food/black-farmers-in-the-us.html)

A major contributing factor to the end of the African-American farming way of life was the USDA’s failure to equably execute the government’s policy on farming, agriculture and food. A 1982 report issued by the Civil Rights Commission stated that the USDA was "a catalyst in the decline of the black farmer." That year, African-Americans received only 1% of all farm ownership loans, only 2.5% of all farm operating loans, and only 1% of all soil and water conservation loans (pbs.org/itvs/homecoming/history7.html).

While attorneys representing the Pigford II plaintiffs have negotiated a halt to new foreclosure actions while a plaintiff’s claims under the Settlement are pending, nothing can be done about foreclosure actions initiated before the date of the Settlement Agreement. Additionally, Class Counsel cannot forestall any actions short of foreclosure.

Interim settlement funding can help Black farmers and their families and inheritors sustain their traditional way of life. RD Legal provides personalized service and quick turnaround. Once the necessary documentation is received, RD Legal can wire funds within days.

Attorneys representing plaintiffs and plaintiffs themselves should contact RD Legal at 1-800-565-5177 for more information about settlement financing.

Founded in 1997, RD Legal has established itself as one of the nation's leading providers of lawsuit settlement funding to attorneys and plaintiffs. For more information about RD Legal, please visit http://www.legalfunding.com.

Lawsuit Funding For Public Defenders

Fri, 18 May 2012 06:50:25 GMT

The offices of public defenders have always been plagued with high workloads and low pay. Defendants who use these attorneys generally do not have the money to hire a private lawyer. Large caseloads and small pay have caused many defendants to state in court that their defense was inadequate.

In response, public defenders argue that those factors played a significant role in how rigorous their defense was. After all, limited time and finances make it difficult to provide a robust defense. Lawsuit funding may provide at least a partial solution to this problem. By funding public defenders, lawsuit finance companies can help alleviate some of the money woes many are facing by advancing money on their late voucher payments.

Public defenders are usually paid by the state for which they work. With governments at all levels going through a tough time, there are going to be even more cuts, and budgets are going to be smaller than usual. Cities and states all over the country are cutting their budgets, which makes it less likely that public defenders will be paid in a timely manner. According to news reports, some offices are even forced to refuse cases due to dismal finances.

Since it is well known that the government is notoriously slow at paying their bills, public defenders can get the money and peace of mind they need to focus on future cases by obtaining lawsuit settlement funding. A legal finance company can purchase these vouchers at a discount and provide immediate capital to the public defender. Typical rates for this type of funding range between 1.5% and 3% per month. It is important to note that voucher factoring is not a loan, but a transaction that involves the purchase of a legal receivable.

Public defenders have the image of being overworked and underpaid. Lawsuit funding may not be able to do anything about their salaries, but having cash on hand to give clients their best can do a lot for their case and overall demeanor. A well-funded system on both sides of the aisle is good for the system, and lawsuit funding, while not able to fix all the problems public defenders face, can be a step in the right direction.

About the Author:

David Smethie is the Deal Origination Manager at RD Legal Funding, LLC, a New Jersey based lawsuit funding company that focuses on post settlement financing. RD Legal's proprietary fee acceleration program converts legal fees associated with settled cases into immediate cash for both attorneys and plaintiffs. The company has been a leader in the legal funding space since 1997.

The Benefits of Post-Settlement Lawsuit Funding for Attorneys

Fri, 18 May 2012 06:50:25 GMT

If you are a plaintiff attorney, you understand the importance of proper cash flow management. You face unique challenges working on a contingency fee basis. Irregular cash flow is one such issue. Sometimes, there are long periods of time between receiving your hard earned fees. It can take months, even years, before you actually receive your fee-even after the case has settled. This can make it extremely difficult to grow and expand your law firm.

Traditional financial products are often not adequate to support your firm’s monetary needs. For example, banks generally do not consider your caseload as collateral. As a plaintiff attorney, this can be extremely frustrating, since your caseload is your most valuable asset. Fortunately, there are specialty finance companies that can factor your legal receivables and expedite the payment process.

These legal funding companies provide a service called post-settlement funding, also known as fee acceleration. Instead of waiting the months it can take to receive fees on your settled cases, they accelerate this process by purchasing your legal fees at a discount, thus converting your settled cases into working capital.

Post-settlement legal funding companies will generally advance fees on any type of case, including personal injury, employment discrimination, negligence, securities class actions, medical malpractice, product liability, wrongful death, court appointed fees, infant injuries, and wage and hour disputes. Most other types of legal funding only deal with personal injury lawsuits.

It should be noted that post-settlement lawsuit funding is not a loan. It is a non-recourse advance that involves you, the attorney, selling your legal fee to a factoring company.

The benefits of post-settlement lawsuit funding are numerous. Unlike a loan, there are no monthly interest payments or points. Plus there are no restrictions as to how you can spend the money, unlike most lines of credit. You can use these resources to expand your law firm, including launching a new advertising campaign, hiring more employees, and retaining expert witnesses. In addition, because this is a non-recourse transaction, you are not responsible for payment if the defendant for some reason defaults.

Post-settlement legal funding can be an effective cash flow management solution for the plaintiff attorney working on a contingency fee basis. As with any business decision, always do your research. Make sure you are dealing with a reputable company and always read and understand the terms of the deal before proceeding.

About the Author:

David Smethie is the Deal Origination Manager at RD Legal Funding, LLC, a New Jersey based lawsuit funding company that focuses on post settlement financing. RD Legal's proprietary fee acceleration program converts legal fees associated with settled cases into immediate cash for both attorneys and plaintiffs. The company has been a leader in the legal funding space since 1997.

RD Legal Funding Provides Financial Relief for GlaxoSmithKline Diabetes Drug Settlement Attorneys

Fri, 18 May 2012 06:50:25 GMT

In January 2012, GlaxoSmithKline (“GSK”) the United Kingdom’s largest pharmaceutical company agreed to resolve more than 20,000 cases alleging their diabetes drug Avandia causes heart attacks. Meanwhile, the plaintiffs’ attorneys have not been compensated for their out-of-pocket expenses incurred in pursuing these meritorious cases. RD Legal Funding, LLC (“RD Legal”) a leading lawsuit settlement funding company, is available to provide qualified applicants with immediate financial relief.

The FDA approved the use of rosiglitazone for treatment of Type 2 Diabetes on May 25th, 1999. Marketed under the name Avandia, it became the world’s best-selling Type 2 diabetes treatment drug.

In 2000, John Buse, MD, a leading diabetes expert, expressed concerns regarding potential Avandia heart risks. He subsequently reported that he was “intimidated” by the drug maker for speaking out about the dangers which could be associated with the diabetes medication. Buse, currently director of the University of North Carolina Diabetes Care Center and former president of the American Diabetes Association, continues to speak out against the use of Avandia. He writes: “…as a physician and as a member of a profession, it is inconceivable to me that anyone would make a conscious decision to prescribe Avandia today.” (SOURCE: http://unchealthcare.wordpress.com/2010/07/15/one-physicians-take-on-the-avandia-controversy)

After false and misleading comments about Avandia were made by sales representatives to an undercover investigator, the FDA issued a reprimand letter to GSK in 2001. The FDA was criticized by Public Citizens’ Health Research Group for not following their staff scientists’ recommendations to add a strong “black-box” warning to Avandia. However, even though GSK’s own 2005 draft analysis of clinical data indicated concerns about heart risks associated with Avandia, the drug’s warning label was not modified until 2006. Even then, the warnings were not prominently displayed and did not adequately convey the risks associated with Avandia.

Congressional hearings on Avandia were not held until 2007, after the New England Journal of Medicine published an independent review of the 2005 clinical data showing a 43% increase in the risk of heart attacks and over 60% increase in the risk of cardiovascular death associated with the use of Avandia. The hearing reviewed when information about Avandia heart attack risks was available and why it was not disclosed to the public earlier. Under pressure, in November, the FDA announced a new “black box” warning about the Avandia heart attack risk but failed to recall the controversial medication.

In January 2008 FDA staff scientists released a report estimating that Avandia may have caused an estimated 83,000 heart attacks. Other studies citing additional negative side effects of the drug including stroke, osteoporosis, bone fractures and liver failure soon followed. By September 2010, after Avandia had been banned in several European countries, calls for its recall in the Unites States increased dramatically. Nonetheless, the FDA announced that the drug would remain on the market for patients whose diabetes could not be controlled with other medications.

GSK spent 11 years covering up their own studies showing that the drug posed risks to the heart, failing to post results on its Website or submit them to federal drug regulators as required by law. As a result, in 2010, GSK paid a $2.36 billion charge to settle some 10,000 of 13,000 Avandia civil lawsuits it was facing in the U.S., as well as investigations over its antidepressant Paxil and manufacturing problems in its Puerto Rico plant.

In November 2011, GSK agreed to pay the U.S. government $3 billion to resolve civil and criminal investigations alleging that the company had paid doctors and manipulated medical research to promote Avandia.

Meanwhile the attorneys pursuing the cases on behalf of injured plaintiffs have yet to receive any compensation for the expenses they have incurred pursuing these meritorious cases. RD Legal is making immediate settlement funding available for attorneys in need.

Post-settlement financing does not require any kind of payments until the fee is paid; there are no monthly interest or principal payments, no upfront points or fees. Once the necessary documentation is received, RD Legal can wire funds within one to two days. RD Legal has the resources to fully fund settlements for more than $20 million.

Since its founding in 1997, RD Legal has established itself as one of the nation's leading providers of legal funding to attorneys and plaintiffs. To speak to a financing expert, call RD Legal toll-free at 1-800-565-5177. More information is available at http://www.legalfunding.com.

Crisis in the U.S. Courts Squeezing Plaintiffs? Attorneys

Fri, 18 May 2012 06:50:25 GMT

RD Legal Funding, LLC (“RD Legal”) is providing lawsuit funding to attorneys squeezed by court delays. Lawsuits are taking longer than ever to settle due to logjams in the American courts. Forty-two states cut judicial budgets in 2011. Federal courts had 90 vacancies as of July 28, 2011, with only 53 pending nominations. Plaintiff firms, combatting the traditional “war of attrition” waged by large firms on the defense side, need assistance to weather the additional delays caused by the overloaded judicial system. Post settlement financing provides an effective, ethical solution for their cash-flow crises.

Attorney David Boies described the impact budget cuts are having on the judicial system: “…by cutting the judicial budget…in fact you’re incurring tens of millions of dollars of costs on consumers of the justice system who now have to wait, have to travel, have to incur additional fees — have to just generally have justice delayed.” Former Solicitor General Ted Olson described attorneys showing up in court only to be sent away for months until another court date is secured: “Now the case has to be prepared all over again, the witnesses have to be subpoenaed, blah, blah, blah. The cost is enormous...” (wsj.com)

Contingency fee practices, already hampered by the associated costs of expensive litigation, are being stretched to the breaking point by the increasing length of litigation. Plaintiff’s attorneys, who are often not compensated for months or years after a settlement is reached, are seeing their settlements recede even further in time. Without legal funding, more and more firms will lack the resources to bring worthy actions to trial or to attain a settlement in the best interests of a contingency fee plaintiff.

RD Legal makes lawsuit funding available to attorneys while maintaining the utmost in ethical standards. A post-settlement lender has neither an interest nor any impact on when a case is settled, or for what amount. Attorneys do not need to compromise their obligations of client confidentiality, loyalty and control over a lawsuit in order to obtain necessary funding.

There are no monthly interest or principal payments associated with post-settlement funding. Once the necessary documentation is received, RD Legal can wire funds within a few days. The company provides financing for virtually any type of settled case, including environmental disasters, personal injury, class action, medical malpractice, negligence, product liability, wage and hour disputes, wrongful death, infant injuries, court appointed fees, and employment discrimination. RD Legal has the resources to fully fund settlements for more than $20 million.

Since its founding in 1997, RD Legal has established itself as one of the nation's leading providers of legal funding to attorneys and plaintiffs. To speak to a financing expert, call RD Legal toll-free at 800-565-5177. More information is available at http://www.legalfunding.com.

Lawsuit Funding for Attorneys

Fri, 18 May 2012 06:50:25 GMT

We can fund fees up to $20 million and more on virtually any type of settlement.
There are no monthly interest payments, no points, and no upfront fees.
There are no restrictions on use of cash-it’s your hard earned money.
You get immediate access to your legal fee-no waiting months or years to get paid!
This is a non-recourse transaction. We assume the risk of the defendant’s non-payment.

We have a quick and painless application process. Simply fill out the short form at the top of this page. You will then receive an email from one of our lawsuit funding specialists requesting certain supporting documents. Once we receive all the necessary documentation, we will wire you the funds within a few short days.

RD Legal Funding Announces Dramatic Growth in New Business

Fri, 18 May 2012 06:50:25 GMT

New business has dramatically increased for RD Legal Funding, LLC ("RD Legal") since June of 2011 when Joseph Genovesi joined the firm as Senior Vice President of New Business Development. The company attributes this explosive growth to expanding beyond traditional deal origination methods, such as boosting marketing efforts, and extending lawsuit settlement funding to plaintiffs as well as attorneys.

"When I joined RD Legal, I saw a dynamic company poised to capture the opportunity set in the legal funding space. And now, nine months later, our success is exceeding my expectations," says Mr. Genovesi. Before joining RD Legal, Mr. Genovesi focused on hedge fund manager due diligence as Senior Vice President at Paradigm Consulting.

Mr. Genovesi created the Deal Origination Department to generate new leads and develop relationships with attorneys interested in participating in, or recommending, the company's post settlement funding program. Thanks to new internet marketing strategies initiated by David Smethie, Deal Origination Manager, traffic to RD Legal's website has increased by over 400%. Prior to working at RD Legal, Mr. Smethie owned and managed an internet marketing firm. Richard Heilshorn recently joined the department as Deal Origination Analyst. With over a decade of experience in financial services, Mr. Heilshorn brings cutting-edge business research tools to the settlement funding industry.

Personalized service and quick turnaround are building RD Legal's client base. Once the necessary documentation is received, RD Legal can wire funds within a few days. The company provides financing for virtually any type of settled case, including environmental disasters, personal injury, class action, medical malpractice, negligence, product liability, wage and hour disputes, wrongful death, infant injuries, court appointed fees, and employment discrimination. RD Legal is stronger than ever and has the resources to fully fund settlements in excess of $20 million.

In June, 2011, RD Legal expanded its business to fund plaintiffs. The company was honored to help first responders involved in the 9/11 New York City Settlement. The company is also assisting farmers who are part of the Black Farmers Discrimination Litigation (Pigford II).

Since its founding in 1997, RD Legal has established itself as one of the nation's leading providers of lawsuit funding to attorneys and plaintiffs. To speak to a financing expert, call RD Legal toll-free at 800-565-5177. More information is available at http://www.legalfunding.com.

Deadline for BP Oil Spill Settlement Approaches

Fri, 18 May 2012 06:50:25 GMT

CRESSKILL, NJ. A settlement between BP and the U.S. Department of Justice is near for all civil and criminal charges related to the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig explosion and Gulf of Mexico oil spill. Estimated at between $20 billion and $25 billion, it will be the second largest settlement in U.S. history. The BP oil spill is considered to be the second worst environmental disaster in the nation’s history, second only to the 1920s Dust Bowl.

The settlement is expected between February 7th (when BP releases its year-end results) and February 27th (the scheduled start of legal hearings in New Orleans). It will be months, if not years, before lawyers and plaintiffs receive compensation. However, once settlement amounts are finalized, litigation funding can be obtained immediately from RD Legal Funding, one of the nation's leading providers of plaintiff and attorney post-settlement funding.

About 4.9 million barrels of oil flowed into the Gulf of Mexico from April 20th, 2010, when the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig exploded, until the resulting sea-floor gusher was capped on July 15th, 2010. Eleven rig workers were killed and 17 more injured. Immeasurable damage was done to marine and wildlife habitats, as well as the Gulf’s fishing and tourism industries.

The National Resources Defense Council reports that about 1,000 miles of shoreline were affected. Two thousand square miles of Louisiana’s coastal wetlands have been lost. An enormous dead zone remains off the mouth of the Mississippi River.

In January 2011 the presidentially appointed National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling released its report blaming BP and its partners for its cost-cutting decisions and the lack of a system to ensure well safety. After an internal review, BP admitted culpability in the disaster and established a $20 billion fund to compensate oil spill victims. As of July 2011 the fund had paid $4.7 billion to 198,475 claimants, although nearly one million claims had been received with thousands more being made each week.

Attorneys representing plaintiffs in the BP Oil Spill Litigation, as well as plaintiffs themselves, should contact RD Legal Funding at 1-800-565-5177 for more information about immediate settlement financing.

Founded in 1997, RD Legal has established itself as one of the nation's leading providers of lawsuit settlement funding to attorneys and plaintiffs. For more information about RD Legal, please visit http://www.legalfunding.com.

How to Boost Search Engine Rankings With Press Releases

Fri, 18 May 2012 06:50:25 GMT

Press releases are traditionally used to get the word out about a newsworthy piece of information. However, as the public's shift to digital media consumption has skyrocketed, the press release has changed accordingly. One such benefit of this paradigm is that press releases, when written and structured properly, can improve a website's search engine rankings for target keywords.

Today, press releases are not only distributed to traditional offline media outlets. They are circulated to web-based news sources, bloggers, and major search engines and their corresponding news platforms. Examples include Google News and Yahoo! News. A well written and optimized press release that is distributed through a top newswire can drive a significant amount of instantaneous traffic to your website. But how does this increase search engine rankings?

Assuming you distribute your release through a reputable newswire, such as PR Newswire or Business Wire, you can include links to your website within the release. For example, if you own an online music store and are selling a new snare drum, you could use "snare drum" as the anchor text, which in turn links to a page on your website specific to that snare drum. Better yet, use the exact make and model of the snare drum as the anchor text, such as "Sonor Black Mamba maple snare drum." The more targeted the keyword, the higher your conversions will be. Plus it is much more realistic to rank for a specific key phrase than a more general term.

From my experience distributing press releases for clients, it is common to have a single press release syndicated on over 200 different websites. With the above snare drum example, that creates over 200 back links to your website that will help you rank for the key phrase"Sonor Black Mamba maple snare drum."

Below are some best practices when optimizing a press release for the search engines.

1. Keep the word count of your release between 400 and 600.

2. Focus on optimizing one keyword per press release. Focusing on too many keywords will dilute the value of each link.

3. Perform diligent keyword research. Make sure you select a keyword that is highly relevant to the content on one of your webpages. Ideally, you want to find a keyword that isn't too broad but also has a good search volume. Generally, phrases that are between two and four words work best. You can use Google's free keyword tool to perform this research.

4. Avoid linking to your homepage. You want to send traffic to a page on your website that is highly relevant to your keyword. This will not only improve your chances of achieving higher rankings for your keyword, but will also ensure that the traffic you generate directly from your press release converts at a higher rate.

5. Make sure to use your keyword in the article title and several times throughout the body. However, do not "keyword stuff," as your release could get penalized by the search engines.

6. If possible, include your hyperlinked keyword in the first paragraph of the release. The search engines give more weight to text towards the beginning of a page.

7. Do not use a free distribution service. You generally get what you pay for, and most free press release services have very little reach and often do not allow hyperlinking within the release. PR Newswire and Business Wire are the biggest newswires in the United States and provide the most extensive reach.

Press releases are one of the most cost effective ways to market your product or service. If you take a little extra time to optimize your releases for the search engines, you create the opportunity to generate not only instantaneous targeted traffic, but also numerous quality back links that can boost your website's search engine rankings.

David Smethie is the Deal Origination Manager at RD Legal Funding, LLC, a legal finance company based out of Northern New Jersey. He focuses on using the power of the internet to generate leads and improve brand awareness. For more information on post-settlement funding solutions, please call 800-565-5177.

Helping Black Farmers to Avoid Foreclosures, RD Legal Funding is Prepared to Fund Black Farmers Discrimination Litigation Plaintiffs

Fri, 18 May 2012 06:50:25 GMT

Cresskill, NJ: Relief will soon be available to the tens of thousands of Black American farmers who have still not received the funds due them through the Black Farmers Discrimination Litigation settlement. Many of these farmers, who face severe financial hardship and even foreclosure, may have to wait months, if not years, to receive their award after the settlement is finalized by the courts.

RD Legal Funding, LLC (“RD Legal”) will be providing post-settlement funding to the plaintiffs to help them stave off financial disaster as soon as their settlement amount is confirmed.

From 1988 through 1999 the USDA refused loans to black farmers while awarding greater loans to white farmers of equal standing, causing many black farmers to lose their farms or operate on a smaller scale. This systematic discrimination against Black American farmers, combined with the current financial crisis, is a significant part of the crisis facing Black American farming today:

•    Black American farmers are losing their land at five times the rate of white farmers.

•    In 1920, 14% of all American agricultural producers were black; in 2010, only 1% of American agricultural producers were black.

•    Today only 1 in 100 farms are owned by Black American farmers representing a land loss of over 10 million acres from 1920 to 2010.

•    The average age of a black farmer is 63.

“The settlement came long after I thought it would… For the average black farmer, this settlement could be night and day,” says John Boyd Jr., Founder of the National Black Farmers Association.

“Farmers could be waiting many more years before they ever see a dime from this settlement. With our legal funding services, plaintiffs can get compensated within days, not months or years," said Joe Genovesi, Senior Vice President of New Business Development.

The settlements due to Black American farmers were the result of two original class action lawsuits (Pigford v. Glickman and Brewington v. Glickman) which asserted that between 1988 and 1999, the U.S. Department of Agriculture had systematically discriminated against African-American farmers on the basis of race. The cases were consolidated then settled in 1999 with the USDA agreeing to pay $50,000 to each black farmer who participated in the lawsuit.

This represented the largest civil rights settlement in history. Over 40,000 farmers with documented claims, who had been unable to meet the original deadline, joined the suit. In November 2010, Congress approved, and President Barack Obama signed an order appropriating an additional $1.15 billion in settlements.

Plaintiffs in the Black Farmers Discrimination Litigation, and their attorneys, should contact RD Legal Funding at 1-800-565-5177 for more information about settlement financing.

Founded in 1997, RD Legal has established itself as one of the nation's leading providers of legal funding to attorneys and plaintiffs. For more information about RD Legal, please visit http://www.legalfunding.com.

Law Firm Funding: A Cash Flow Management Solution for Plaintiff Attorneys

Fri, 18 May 2012 06:50:25 GMT

Today's plaintiff attorneys face a unique set of financial challenges, especially given the current volatile economy. Working on a contingency basis, they typically incur hefty expenses long before collecting their fee. Discovery costs, salaries, expert witness fees, advertising costs, and day-to-day operating expenses can add up quickly, making it difficult to compete with deep pocketed defense firms.

Unfortunately, the plaintiff attorney working on a contingency basis must wait for the case to settle before receiving payment, which can often take years. Furthermore, even once the case has settled, it can take several additional months and in some cases several additional years, before payment is actually received.

There are several reasons for this delay in payment. Defendants, especially large insurance companies, are often slow to pay. In addition, there are sometimes administrative delays that are often coupled with sluggish court approvals.

This is where law firm funding can be a lifesaver for the plaintiff attorney. There are two major classifications of legal financing: pre-settlement funding and post-settlement funding. Pre-settlement funding is a cash advance on a case before the case settles. This is the most common kind of law firm funding.

With a pre-settlement advance, the risk to the funding company is relatively high. Therefore, the rates are quite expensive, usually exceeding 3% per month. In addition, many finance companies will charge a flat upfront fee of 10%-20% of the advance.

Pre-settlement funding becomes very costly when a case takes over a year to settle, as the high monthly interest rate compounds over the course that the funds are outstanding. The amount of the advance usually will not exceed 10% of the estimated case value.

Post-settlement funding involves a finance company purchasing the fee after the case has settled. The attorney receives an advance based on a discounted value of the determined legal fee. This is also referred to as legal receivable factoring.

Rates for post-settlement funding are generally much cheaper, as there is no pre-settlement risk. Legal funding companies usually charge anywhere between 1.5% and 2.5% for advancements on settled cases.

If a lawyer is facing financial difficulties, attorney funding can help to smooth out irregular cash flow. Pre-settlement funding is quite expensive and should only be used when other financial options have been exhausted. Post-settlement financing can be obtained at a much cheaper price and can therefore be utilized as a cash flow management tool on a more regular basis.

David Smethie is the Deal Origination Manager at RD Legal Funding, LLC, a law firm funding company located in Northern New Jersey.

RD Legal Funding to Finance Attorneys and Plaintiffs in Black Farmers Discrimination Litigation Settlement

Fri, 18 May 2012 06:50:25 GMT

CRESSKILL, NJ: Tens of thousands of black farmers who claimed they were wrongfully denied farm loans and other benefits by federal agricultural officials between 1981 and 1996 finally have access to settlement funds, as per an October 27, 2011 judge's order. The Black Farmers Discrimination Litigation Settlement provides $1.25 billion in total funding, which can be accessed by plaintiffs and their attorneys immediately by contacting RD Legal Funding, LLC ("RD Legal Funding").

Two original class action lawsuits: Pigford v. Glickman and Brewington v. Glickman, asserted that the U.S. Department of Agriculture had systematically discriminated against African-American farmers on the basis of race. The cases were consolidated then settled in 1999. The USDA agreed to pay $50,000 to each black farmer who participated in the lawsuit, representing the largest civil rights settlement in history.

However, as many as 85 percent of those qualifying did not learn of the settlement until it was too late to participate and never had their cases heard. The battle to win the bypassed claimants the right to participate in the so-called "Pigford case" has been a long one:

The 2008 Farm Bill passed by Congress provided Pigford participants whose petitions were filed late with a new right to sue, but provided only $100 million in funding for valid claims.
In February 2010, after two years of further litigation, attorneys representing tens of thousands of farmers entered into a settlement agreement with the USDA requiring Congress to fund an additional $1.15 billion for successful claimants.
That funding was signed into law (the Claims Resolution Act of 2010) by the president in December 2010.
The October 2011 order by Judge Paul L. Friedman of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia granted final approval of the Settlement.

RD Legal Funding is in the process of funding attorneys associated with the Black Farmers Discrimination Litigation Settlement and will begin funding plaintiffs once settlement amounts are finalized.

"We feel they've waited long enough," said Joseph Genovesi, Senior Vice President of New Business Development at RD Legal Funding. "While we now have an approved settlement with sufficient funding, it may still be many months before the courts deliver actual awards to plaintiffs and their attorneys receive the fees they have earned. RD Legal Funding is ready to provide attorneys and plaintiffs with the funds they are due without delay."

Founded in 1997, RD Legal Funding has established itself as one of the nation's leading providers of lawsuit settlement funding to attorneys. The firm recently expanded its business model to include post-settlement funding to plaintiffs.

Attorneys representing plaintiffs in the Black Farmers Discrimination Litigation, as well as plaintiffs themselves, should contact RD Legal Funding at 1-800-565-5177 for more information about settlement financing. For more information about RD Legal Funding, please visit www.legalfunding.com.

Legal Funding: Post Settlement vs Pre Settlement

Fri, 18 May 2012 06:50:25 GMT

Imagine this scenario: You are driving to work in the morning with coffee in hand and your briefcase on the seat next to you. You've heard on the radio that traffic is a bit slow this morning so you pay extra attention to the road to make sure you aren't caught by surprise. Sure enough, you see a slow-down ahead, so you apply the brakes and reach down to take a sip of coffee.

Before you can process, a car slams into you from the rear. You aren't seriously injured, but there are sharp pains in your neck and back - common with whiplash and these types of accidents.

Getting treatment is costly. Pain medication is costly. Physical therapy is costly. The bills are adding up and insurance is not coming through. Knowing that this accident was clearly the other person's fault, you file a lawsuit to be compensated fairly for what happened.

This situation is all too common. What happens after we get to this part in the story often takes many years. All the while, you are still in pain (physically and mentally) and are still footing the bill.

So what do people do in these situations? Their bank account is shrinking and they simply don't know what to do next. A common solution is turning to credit. As you can imagine, this can easily lead to further financial issues. Rates can change and lenders often get nasty.

Another option that isn't considered as often, due to lack of knowledge or a misinterpretation of what the industry does, is legal funding. There are two main types of plaintiff lawsuit funding: pre settlement funding and post settlement funding.

Pre Settlement funding is the most common type of lawsuit financing. This means the plaintiff gets a cash advance before the lawsuit is settled. In many cases, there is no obligation to repay if the lawsuit is lost.

Post settlement funding is considerably less common but often makes the most sense assuming it's an available option. Even after a case is won, it often takes months or sometimes years before the physical receipt of payment. Reasons for this delay include slow paying defendants, court approvals, and administrative deferments.

The risk to the funding company with a pre-settlement advance is quite high. Hence the rates are generally quite expensive. With post-settlement funding, there is little investment risk for the financing company because the case has already been decided. So the rates are much more reasonable compared to pre-settlement rates.

Pre settlement advances generally don't exceed much more than 10% of the estimated case value. With post settlement funding, the vast majority of the legal fee can be advanced.

In addition, pre settlement companies usually focus on personal injury cases. Post settlement funding companies will generally fund a wider variety of lawsuits, such as:

Medical malpractice
Negligence
Wage and hour disputes
Wrongful death
Infant injuries
Court appointed fees
Class actions
Employment discrimination

If you are struggling with debt due to the delayed payment of a lawsuit award, legal funding (either pre settlement or post settlement) can help resolve your cash flow issues.

RD Legal Funding in Position to Immediately Compensate Those Affected by Black Farmers Discrimination Lawsuit

Fri, 18 May 2012 06:50:25 GMT

CRESSKILL, N.J. On October 27th, 2011 final approval was granted for a $1.25 billion settlement in regards to the "Black Farmers case." This is a decades old lawsuit, and paves the way for those affected to seek compensation for being left out of USDA farm aid programs.

Originally, "Pigford v. Glickman" was a class action lawsuit against the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), alleging racial discrimination in its allocation of farm loans and assistance between 1983 and 1997. The lawsuit ended with a settlement in 1999. To date, almost $1 billion has been paid or credited to the farmers under the settlement's terms.

Thousands of African-American farmers have been compensated from the original 1999 ruling. However, there are thousands of additional people affected that were denied because of claims filed past an arbitrary deadline.

RD Legal Funding, LLC ("RD Legal Funding") is uniquely positioned to help plaintiffs get immediate help. "This case has already been decades in the making. Farmers could be waiting many more years before they ever see a dime from this settlement. With our post-settlement funding services, plaintiffs can get compensated within weeks, not years," said Joe Genovesi, Senior Vice President of New Business Development.

The ending date to submit claims is May 11, 2012, with no claims being awarded until all are received and reviewed. This means a late 2012 date for settlement payments at the earliest, but likely much later. You can visit www.blackfarmercase.com for more information, or visit http://www.legalfunding.com/solutions/plaintiff_funding.cfm to apply for immediate compensation.

Founded by Roni Dersovitz in 1997, RD Legal Funding provides both plaintiffs and plaintiff's attorneys with innovative post-settlement funding cash flow solutions. Their proprietary fee acceleration program allows attorneys to convert their settled cases into immediate capital for growth. Over the past 14 years, RD Legal Funding has become one of the most reputable companies in the litigation financing space.

RD Legal Funding purchases legal receivables in a variety of areas, including class action, workers compensation, malpractice, product liability, and personal injury. The firm has offices in Cresskill, NJ and Riverside, CA.

Post-Settlement Funding

Fri, 18 May 2012 06:50:25 GMT

In order to avoid these perceived ethical pitfalls, among other reasons, pre-settlement lawsuit financing is often discouraged, and successful plaintiffs’ law firms may choose to avoid such complications. This leaves them, however, without a ready source of funds to pursue growth or to finance additional cases “in the pipeline” when conventional sources of financing, such as lines of credit, have dried up.

For an existing, mature practice, such financing is available through the sale and assignment of earned fees in a post-settlement context. In such circumstances, an attorney may have litigated a case to settlement. Pursuant to his contingency fee contract with the client, he is entitled to a fee of 40% of the award or settlement. However, the settlement is payable in installments, or is subject to court approval, or in the case of a class action, administration of a claims process that may take two or three years. In such circumstances, the attorney’s work is concluded, and the fee already earned. However, the attorney cannot expect to receive the fee for that multi year period.

Thus, in order to finance the next personal injury case or the next class action, the attorney may choose to sell his fee to a lawsuit funding or factoring company, at a discount, in order to obtain the fee right away. The attorney assigns the right to collect the fee at the time the class action is fully administered, and funds are released by a claim administrator directly to the purchaser/finance company. The attorney can then move on to the next case. The financing company bears the cost of having the funds tied up over time.

This post-settlement funding avoids the ethical pitfalls inherent in pre-settlement lawsuit funding. Confidential information regarding the merits of the case is unnecessary. The purchaser, unlike a pre-settlement lender, has neither an interest nor any impact on when a case is settled, or for what amount. Further, there are no specific limitations on the funds obtained by sale and assignment of an existing fee award that may be imposed on pre-settlement lawsuit financing.

Some lenders require that such financing go toward the costs of maintaining the action. This is fine if the law firm is funding each case on an ad hoc basis. If, in contrast, a law firm wishes to use the profits derived from its labors in order to finance the wooing of a new partner, a move to new offices, or even tenant improvements, ad hoc lawsuit financing on a pre-settlement basis would limit the use of such funds.

Unlike traditional bank financing or other lenders, including the use of credit cards or personal loans, fee acceleration in the form of an assignment and payment does not require the payment of monthly interest or principal payments. There are no upfront points or fees. Simply put, there are no payments of any kind until the fee is paid.

The sale of earned legal fees by a law firm after settlement or judgment meets an attorney’s needs for financing while maintaining the utmost in ethical standards. Attorneys do not need to compromise their obligations of client confidentiality, loyalty and control over a lawsuit in order to obtain the funding necessary for growth.

Irena Leigh Norton, Esq. is General Counsel to RD Legal Companies, including RD Legal Funding, LLC. RD Legal provides post-settlement funding solutions to lawyers and plaintiffs, including fee acceleration and lines of credit.

Lawsuit Financing Ethics

Fri, 18 May 2012 06:50:25 GMT

Many plaintiff firms seek such financing on an ad hoc basis. In these circumstances, a funding company provides the attorney with a cash advance against a favorable outcome of the case. Based upon the strength of the case, and in certain circumstances, an evaluation of the strength of your firm’s portfolio of cases, a lawsuit funding company will provide an advance (generally, somewhere in the range of 10-15%) on the expected amount of the award, should the attorney prevail in the case. Generally, such an advance is “non-recourse.”

Like a contingency fee itself, the legal funding advance does not need to be repaid unless a successful result – whether settlement or eventual award – is achieved. These funds allow a law firm to finance costs such as experts. Pre-settlement lawsuit financing, however, has come under fire from critics who believe such financing agreements – whether provided to lawyers or their clients – violate long-standing ethical prohibitions.

For example, critics charge that such financing drains money from plaintiffs. Interest rates in pre-settlement lawsuit loans generally exceed 15% a year, and most states allow lawyers that borrow to bill clients for the interest payments. The costs can exceed the benefits of winning. In addition, lawyers are not required to tell clients that they have borrowed money, so the client may be unaware that there is financial pressure to resolve a case for a figure that will repay a lawsuit advance.

Other critics cite the potential violation of ethical obligations that is inherent in providing information to a lender regarding the merits of an ongoing lawsuit. Every attorney, whatever his or her state of practice, is charged with an undivided duty of loyalty to his or her client. Some critics charge that this duty of loyalty, as well as duties of confidentiality, may be impaired when information regarding the merits and potential results of a lawsuit are provided to a lender in order to facilitate pre-settlement lawsuit financing. Some lenders require notice of settlement offers, for example.

Other critics point to the medieval doctrine of champerty – which precludes “officious intermeddling” and profiteering from the sale of legal claims to third parties. Such doctrines are intended to deter speculation and litigation and supposedly serve the interest of protecting defendants from frivolous lawsuits. Some critics charge that financing constitutes an improper “workaround” of doctrines precluding the assignment of personal injury claims. Such charges are the subject of a number of articles both in mainstream media, such as the New York Times, and legal journals.

Post-settlement funding is often a more viable option, which we will discuss in the final segment of this article.

Funding Law Firm Growth in a Credit Crunch Economy

Fri, 18 May 2012 06:50:25 GMT

Litigation is expensive. Without financing, many firms lack the resources to bring meritorious actions to trial or to attain a lucrative settlement in the best interests of a contingency fee plaintiff. This reality has been further complicated by the ongoing credit crisis. Law firms, like other small or entrepreneurial businesses, have experienced a reduction in the general availability of loans (or credit), or seen a sudden and unreasonable tightening of the conditions required to obtain financing from banks and traditional lenders.

Firms which previously were able to rely on a line of credit or loan from a traditional bank or lender have found such avenues of financing drying up or no longer available. At the same time, clients continue to look for alternative bases to finance bringing litigation over the anticipated years of concentrated warfare that litigation sometimes requires. Plaintiff firms, in particular, need resources in order to combat the traditional “war of attrition” waged by large firms on the defense side. What alternatives exist for law firms in this economy?

A contingency fee practice with the attendant costs of litigation is often understood as a “feast or famine” proposition that creates severe cash flow problems and financial uncertainty for trial attorneys and law firms. In even the best of times, many practitioners are forced to mortgage their own real property or pledge other assets to collateralize a personal loan that is then used to support the law practice.

Banks rarely recognize the value of future contingency fees as collateral. Banks cannot and will not make law firm loans or attorney lines of credit based solely on the value of pending case inventory. The lending decisions of banks are based primarily on the personal credit of the individual partners and the value of the attorneys' personal assets. When banks do partake in law firm funding, they usually lend a limited amount that is often inadequate to support firm objectives, so partners are still required to contribute personal capital-and shoulder the risk.

Banks also file a broad UCC lien against the assets and "general accounts" of the law practice, encumbering the firm's future fees while at the same time refusing to lend an amount that is truly reflective of the full value of those fees. Banks usually insist that the equity partners sign guarantees, making them personally liable to repay the loan no matter what their case outcomes may be.

Law firms looking to grow their practice cannot count on traditional lenders to support such efforts in this economy. They must look to alternative lawsuit financing options, which we will discuss in part 2 of this article.

Financing Settled Cases: RD Legal Expands Funding to Plaintiffs

Fri, 18 May 2012 06:50:25 GMT

Plaintiffs in virtually any type of settled legal case can now receive their settlement funds with no delays. RD Legal Funding, LLC (“RD Legal Funding”), a New Jersey-based lawsuit funding company, now provides financing on settled cases to plaintiffs.

According to Joseph Genovesi, Senior Vice President of New Business Development at RD Legal Funding, “once a plaintiff has won their case, it can still take many months, or longer, before they actually receive the award they are due through the courts. We see this as an opportunity to help plaintiffs by eliminating that extended waiting period. In addition, plaintiff post-settlement funding is a natural extension of our current business model.”

Founded in 1997, RD Legal Funding has established itself as one of the nation’s leading providers of litigation funding to attorneys.

RD Legal Funding has already provided a total of over $580,000 in post-settlement funding to four plaintiffs from a major mass tort lawsuit. The company can provide funding for virtually any type of settled case, including personal injury, class action, medical malpractice, negligence, product liability, wage and hour disputes, wrongful death, infant injuries, court appointed fees, and employment discrimination.

The application process for plaintiffs is quick and easy. Funds can be provided within a week of RD Legal Funding receiving all required documents. There are no application fees or any kind of hidden fees associated with obtaining financing from RD Legal Funding. Plus they have the resources to fully fund settlements of all sizes, from $20,000 all the way up to $20 million.

“We have always offered our clients a completely transparent process,” explained Founder and CEO Roni Dersovitz, Esq. “Our rates are very competitive and everything is explained upfront. Nothing is hidden and there are no surprises. With some companies that provide pre-settlement funding, that’s not the case. We specialize in post-settlement funding and do it better than anyone else in the country.”

To speak to a plaintiff financing expert, call RD Legal Funding toll-free at 1-800-565-5177. Or you can visit their website for more information at http://www.legalfunding.com.

Credit Crisis for Trial Lawyers? RD Legal Funding Has Delivered Over $12 Million In Financing in the Last Three Months Alone!

Fri, 18 May 2012 06:50:25 GMT

A sluggish economy, a battered banking industry, lagging consumer spending – all have slowed the flow of business financing across the U.S., in many cases to a trickle. This has presented a special challenge for plaintiff’s attorneys seeking lawsuit settlement funding. Even in the best of times, banks are unable to meet law firms’ needs with their conventional products. And, due to the economy, many sources of litigation funding have closed their doors or scaled back lending.

One firm is bucking the trend – dramatically. In just the last three months, RD Legal Funding, LLC (“RD Legal”), a New Jersey-based direct funding company that specializes in cash management solutions for law firms, has provided over $12 million in attorney funding across 30 transactions with its clients.

“We understand the special needs of plaintiff’s attorneys and have ample funds available to meet them,” said Joseph Genovesi, Senior Vice President of New Business Development at RD Legal. “We are actively funding some of the fastest-growing law firms in the U.S.”

With attorney financing from RD Legal, lawyers no longer need to wait months or years to receive their fees from settled cases. “We’ve seen our clients experience dramatic growth time and again through this formula,” Mr. Genovesi said. “Lawsuit settlement funding can be immediately applied to pursue new, larger, more profitable cases, diversify the firm by adding partners with complementary skills, or launch aggressive advertising programs to increase caseloads.”

For example, one RD Legal client utilized financing to diversify its practice from motor vehicle accident claims and began to take on larger, more complex litigation. RD Legal advanced $6 million to this firm via their fee acceleration program. The firm invested these funds in advertising to generate new pharmaceutical litigation cases. As cases were settled, the firm was able to tap into more settlement funding to bring in even more cases. All told, through legal funding, RD Legal’s client was able to generate a portfolio of product liability cases that resulted in over $20 million in fees!

RD Legal is very flexible in the ways it can provide litigation funding, explained Founder and CEO Roni Dersovitz, Esq. “We can purchase fees of almost any size, from $20,000 and up,” he said. “We can purchase a portion of your fees to start, then purchase the remainder when additional funds are needed later. And, unlike some litigation funding firms, we have the resources to finance fees up to $20 million or more.”

Recently, RD Legal has expanded its business to include post-settlement funding for plaintiffs. “We recently funded four plaintiffs from a major class action suit, providing a total of over $580,000,” Mr. Genovesi said. “Whether you are an attorney or a plaintiff with a settled lawsuit and you don’t want to wait months or years to receive your money, we are ready and able to help you today.”

Unlike other organizations that advertise lawsuit funding, RD Legal is not a broker. They are a direct funder that will never share or sell client information.

To speak to a lawsuit settlement funding expert, call RD Legal toll-free at 1-800-565-5177. For more information, please visit http://www.legalfunding.com.

Written by David Smethie, Deal Origination Manager at RD Legal Funding, LLC

RD Legal Funding Honors 9/11 First Responders with Lunch Cruise

Fri, 18 May 2012 06:50:25 GMT

CRESSKILL, NJ, Sept. 27, 2011 - RD Legal Funding, LLC (“RD Legal Funding”) is no stranger to furthering the cause of 9/11 first responders. A post settlement funding company based out of Northern New Jersey, the firm has partnered with non-profit organization the FealGood Foundation, which raises money and support for the responders.

Now, RD Legal Funding is hosting its own event in honor and appreciation of these heroes who selflessly dedicated and sacrificed so much.

On Sunday, October 2nd, the company is hosting a boat cruise around Manhattan. “We are really honored to work with these first responders who contributed so much to helping our country rebuild in one of the hardest times in our history. We wanted to provide a nice event for them and their families as a small token of our appreciation,” said Joe Genovesi, Senior Vice President of RD Legal Funding.

The cruise is free to attend for first responders and their significant others. Lunch, as well as wine and beer, will be served. Boarding starts at 11:30 am at Chelsea Piers, NY (Pier 62). The boat leaves at 12:00 pm and returns at 2 pm. To sign up or find out more information about the cruise, please call Joe Genovesi at 201-568-9007, ext. 140. Or you can send an e-mail to jgenovesi@legalfunding.com.

Founded by Roni Dersovitz in 1997, RD Legal Funding provides plaintiff's attorneys with innovative legal funding solutions. Their proprietary fee acceleration program allows attorneys to convert their settled cases into immediate capital for growth. Over the past 14 years, RD Legal Funding has become one of the most reputable companies in the litigation funding space.

RD Legal Funding purchases legal receivables in a variety of areas, including class action, workers compensation, malpractice, product liability, and personal injury. The firm has offices in Cresskill, NJ and Riverside, CA.

Litigation Funding: Cash Flow Solutions for the Plaintiff Lawyer

Fri, 18 May 2012 06:50:25 GMT

During these tough economic times, it is especially difficult for lawyers working on a contingency basis to operate a profitable law firm. Therefore, it is of paramount importance for these attorneys to learn how to efficiently manage their cash flow.

Banks and traditional sources of lending are a great place to start. But for many contingency based law firms, bank loans do not provide an adequate amount of legal funding for basic expenses and growth.

This is where litigation funding can provide extra financial resources and help smooth out your cash flow. Banks do not take into account the value of your settled cases. At RD Legal Funding, we recognize that as a plaintiff attorney, your case load is your most valuable asset. The financial products that RD Legal has to offer can provide a substantial advantage when building your firm.

Our proprietary fee acceleration program was designed with the plaintiff attorney in mind. Even though a case is settled, it oftentimes takes months or even years before you actually receive your legal fee. With our fee acceleration program, we purchase your unpaid legal receivable, providing you with an immediate stream of revenue to help grow your firm.

RD Legal Funding has been in business for over 14 years. We have the financial resources to fund almost any fee amount: anywhere from $20,000 to $20,000,000. We are well positioned to provide the full financing your firm requires.

At RD Legal Funding, we make it a point to provide full transparency in our financial products. There are no registration fees, processing fees, hidden fees, or any fine print. We make everything clear and upfront, as we have nothing to hide. Furthermore, there are no monthly payments, and we assume the risk of the defendant’s non-payment.

If you would like to find out more about our fee acceleration program, please fill out our brief online application on this page. Once we receive all the required information, we will wire your funds within a few short days. If you have any questions, one of our litigation funding specialists will be more than happy to assist you.

Written by David Smethie, Deal Origination Manager at RD Legal Funding, LLC

Leo Zatta Appointed Chief Financial Officer of RD Legal Funding, LLC

Fri, 18 May 2012 06:50:25 GMT

RD Legal Funding, LLC (“RD Legal Funding”) is honored to announce that Leo Zatta has joined the firm as Chief Financial Officer. “RD Legal Funding is a preeminent company in the lawsuit settlement funding space. I am truly privileged to be a part of such a dynamic and motivated team,” said Mr. Zatta.

Prior to joining RD Legal Funding, Mr. Zatta was a partner at the accounting firm Wiss & Company, LLP, where he specialized in forensic accounting and valuation. Mr. Zatta attained his MBA in Finance, Masters of Science in Taxation, and BS in Accounting from Seton Hall University. He is a licensed CPA in New Jersey and Florida, as well as a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and the New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants (NJSCPA). In addition, Mr. Zatta is a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), a Certified Valuation Analyst (CVA), and Accredited in Business Valuation (ABV).

Mr. Zatta is also Chairman of the Board of Team Walker, a non-profit organization that assists disadvantaged children in Jersey City.

Founded by Roni Dersovitz in 1997, RD Legal Funding provides plaintiff’s attorneys with innovative post settlement funding cash flow solutions. Their proprietary fee acceleration program allows attorneys to convert their settled cases into immediate capital for growth. Over the past 14 years, RD Legal Funding has become one of the most reputable companies in the litigation financing space.

RD Legal Funding purchases legal receivables in a variety of areas, including class action, workers compensation, malpractice, product liability, and personal injury. The firm has offices in Cresskill, NJ and Riverside, CA.

For more information, please contact:

Leo J. Zatta, CPA
Chief Financial Officer
RD Legal Funding, LLC
201-568-9007 x 103
lzatta@legalfunding.com
http://www.legalfunding.com

Law Firm Loans for Attorneys

Fri, 18 May 2012 06:50:25 GMT

Managing a law firm, especially one that is paid solely on a contingency basis, is one of the most challenging occupations. Half the battle is knowing how to efficiently manage your cash flow, especially during tough economic times.

To help smooth out irregular bursts of cash flow, attorney financing in the form of law firm loans can be the solution you need to grow your business. Law firm loans, also referred to as an attorney's line of credit, can provide the financial flexibility and stability your firm requires to maximize cash flow and continue to grow.

Banks and other traditional lending sources simply do not understand the demands and needs of plaintiff attorneys. Nor do they take into account your caseload. RD Legal Funding, LLC, is well positioned to provide your law firm with the financing you need, whether it be $500,000 or $10,000,000. Of course, interest only accrues on funds that are outstanding. Plus interest expenses can often qualify as case-related expenses.

If you qualify for a law firm loan from RD Legal Funding, you can use the money for any purpose. Some examples include:

    * Launching a new advertising campaign

    * Meeting day to day operating expenses

    * Paying for litigation related expenditures

    * Keeping pace with deep pocketed defense attorneys


RD Legal Funding's attorney's line of credit application is simple, straightforward, and transparent. Rates are competitive with easy to understand terms. If you'd like to apply for a line of credit, please visit our law firm loans page. If you are interested in accelerating some of your settled cases, please visit our attorney funding site.

Written by David Smethie, Deal Origination Manager at RD Legal Funding, LLC

RD Legal Funding Builds a Case for Social Media

Fri, 18 May 2012 06:50:25 GMT

RD Legal Funding, LLC ("RD Legal"), recognized as the nation’s leader in providing post settlement funding solutions to the legal industry, is harnessing the powers of social media with the help of One Social Media.

With a niche for superior litigation legal funding service, RD Legal delivers reliable rates, straightforward terms, and a manageable application process. They also provide their clients with knowledgable guidance for effective cash flow management. With RD Legal's unique philosophy for educating clients, combined with their competitive fees, social media has become a beneficial addition to the mix.

"Social media is obviously a trend that's not going anywhere and can no longer be ignored,” said Joe Genovesi, Senior Vice President of New Business Development at RD Legal. “Just like it was standard to have a webpage ten years ago, it is now imperative for companies to have a social media presence if they want to be taken seriously."

Determined to immerses themselves into the social media world, executives at RD Legal are hoping to funnel their exceptional legal financing expertise into a valuable online resource for clients.

“There are businesses out there that will provide you with exactly what you ask for, and then there are businesses like RD Legal who are willing to take it a step further with their passion and exceptional customer service. That ethic is a winning strategy for social media,” said Joe Soto, One Social Media founder and CEO.

Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and their blog are new communication portals which the legal funding company is using to connect with its clientele.

You can follow RD Legal Funding online by visiting their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/legalfunding,Twitter: http://twitter.com/rdlegalfunding, LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/rd-legal-funding-llc, or blog: http://lawfirmfinancing.net.

Lawsuit Settlement Funding for Plaintiff Attorneys

Fri, 18 May 2012 06:50:25 GMT

Attorneys who work solely on a contingency basis face unique challenges that other lawyers don’t have to worry about. For example, most defense attorneys are paid directly by the company or individual they are representing. So they don’t have to worry as much about cash flow issues, since they are paid hourly as they perform their job.

Plaintiff attorneys, on the other hand, often have to wait months or sometimes years before they receive their hard earned fees. This lag can create a major cash flow challenge, as the firm needs money to continue to operate. In addition, having to wait such long periods of time to receive payment on settled cases makes it extremely difficult to grow and expand.

Traditional lending products, such as bank loans, are often inadequate sources of funding for plaintiff attorneys, as banks don’t take into account the value of your caseload. This is where lawsuit settlement funding can help.

RD Legal Funding understands that your firm’s most valuable asset is your caseload. We have been providing lawsuit settlement funding to plaintiff attorneys for over 14 years. Let us help you convert your settled legal fees into immediate cash with our proprietary Fee Acceleration Program. Benefits include:

    * Access to instant cash-we purchase fees from $20,000 to $20 million

    * No monthly interest payments, points, upfront, or hidden fees

    * Use your cash however you’d like-there are no restrictions

    * We assume the risk of the defendant’s non-payment!


If you’d like to take advantage of lawsuit settlement funding, please visit our Fee Acceleration page and fill out the brief application. We’ll help you through every step of the process and ensure that you get the maximum amount of money for your settled legal fees.

Written by David Smethie, Deal Origination Manager at RD Legal Funding, LLC

RD Legal Funding Leads The Way In Promptly Delivering Settlement Funds To 911 First Responders

Fri, 18 May 2012 06:50:25 GMT

Almost a full decade after the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center, compensation for first responders who were sickened by toxic dust at Ground Zero has been slow to come by. To help ease the burden, RD Legal Funding, LLC (“RD Legal Funding”), a New Jersey-based financing company, has been working to get 9/11 heroes fast access to settlement funds.

RD Legal Funding has already delivered over $500,000 in settlement funding to an EMT and U.S. Navy veteran who became stricken with cancer and COPD as a result of his service at Ground Zero. The award was the result of the settlement of a case brought by first responders against New York City, which was approved by the plaintiffs in November 2010. The EMT receiving funds from RD Legal Funding is considered a Tier 4 plaintiff, meaning his injuries were in the most extreme category.

“The legal process has been slow to pay damages to the heroes of 9/11, many of whom suffered catastrophic illness as a result of their selfless efforts,” explained Joseph Genovesi of RD Legal Funding. “The New York lawsuit took over seven years to reach conclusion. Once cases are settled, it will still take years for financial assistance to reach the plaintiffs.”

Mr. Genovesi continued, “These heroic individuals ran toward the disaster while everyone else was trying to escape and worked for months after the towers collapsed in conditions that, unbeknownst to them, were highly dangerous to their health. Many face high medical bills, are unable to work, and are struggling to get by. It is our honor – and our duty – to do everything we can to get desperately needed settlement funds into their hands as quickly as possible.”

Several first responders are already in the process of receiving funding from RD Legal Funding as a result of the New York City settlement. RD Legal Funding is preparing to deliver funds to many more when the Victims Compensation Fund initiated by the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act, passed by Congress in December 2010, is finalized in the first quarter of 2012.

“We encourage all 9/11 first responders who may be eligible for settlement funds to contact us as soon as possible,” said Roni Dersovitz, Esq., founder and CEO of RD Legal Funding. “There is no reason for you to wait months for the courts and the government to get you the money you are entitled to. Let us cut through the red tape on your behalf and provide immediate access to your funds.”

To reach out to 9/11 first responders, RD Legal Funding has been working closely with the FealGood Foundation, a non-profit organization founded to raise awareness about the health effects suffered by 9/11 heroes and to provide assistance to relieve their financial burdens. For more information about their programs, visit www.fealgoodfoundation.com.

John Feal, founder of the FealGood Foundation, had this to say about RD Legal Funding: “RD Legal Funding really appreciates the sacrifice all of the first responders made and understands the urgency of giving them access to their award settlements. They have our best interests in mind and I can confidently recommend them to all first responders that need access to their funds immediately.”

To learn more about the 9/11 First Responders’ program at RD Legal Funding, please visit their first responder settlement funding website and complete the simple information request form; or contact the company toll-free at 1-800-565-5177.

Contact:

Joseph Genovesi
201-568-9007 x 140
jgenovesi@legalfunding.com
http://www.legalfunding.com

Joseph Genovesi to Lead RD Legal Funding's Deal Origination Team

Fri, 18 May 2012 06:50:25 GMT

RD Legal Funding, LLC is pleased to announce that Joseph Genovesi has joined the firm as Senior Vice President of New Business Development. Mr. Genovesi will head up the team focused on deal origination for the firm. “I am very excited to be joining a dynamic company in the post settlement legal funding industry. RD Legal Funding is poised for growth and has an excellent team in place to capture the opportunity set in the legal funding space as well as the growing need for pure alpha absolute return vehicles within the hedge fund universe,” said Mr. Genovesi.

Prior to joining RD Legal Funding, Mr. Genovesi was Senior Vice President at Paradigm Consulting Services, where he focused on hedge fund manager due diligence. Before Paradigm, Mr. Genovesi was Vice President Global Analyst with Unigestion, Ltd., where he sourced new investments for the portfolios. Mr. Genovesi achieved his MBA from Rutgers University and BS from Villanova University.

Roni Dersovitz, President and CEO of RD Legal Funding, stated, “As our funds have increased and we continue to see demand from potential investors, now is the time to bolster our origination efforts. Joe brings great work experience and energy to the firm. We are very happy and excited to add him to our team.”

In an effort to further broaden its staff as the firm grows, RD Legal Funding is also pleased to announce that Kevin Regan and Shivam Gupta have joined the financial reporting team and Kamil Zaatar, the marketing team. The addition of Kevin, Shivam and Kamil adds to the great depth of RD’s already impressive staff. Kevin and Shivam each bring great experience to the financial reporting team with financial engineering and accounting backgrounds. Kamil, also a financial engineer, speaks French and Arabic fluently and will be an asset in RD’s European and Middle Eastern marketing efforts.

Founded by Roni Dersovitz in 1997, RD Legal Funding, LLC provides post settlement funding cash flow solutions to attorneys via their proprietary fee acceleration program. For more than a decade, RD Legal has firmly established itself as a nationwide leader in the attorney funding space. The company purchases attorneys’ future legal fees for personal injury, class action, malpractice, workers compensation, employment, and other legal receivables. The firm has offices in Cresskill, NJ and Riverside, CA.

For further information, please contact:

Rick Rowella
SVP of Marketing
RD Legal Funding, LLC
201-568-9007 x 118
rrowella@legalfunding.com
http://www.legalfunding.com

RD Legal Funding is Honored to Fund 9/11 First Responders

Fri, 18 May 2012 06:50:25 GMT

RD Legal Funding is Honored to Fund 9/11 First Responders

Two days after the collapse of the World Trade Center, Mayor Giuliani declared that "the air is safe as far as we can tell, with respect to chemical and biological agents." (Mason) Thousands of brave men and women representing all 50 states sacrificed their lives in an unparalleled feat of heroism and selflessness.

These First Responders had no reason to assume the air they were breathing was contaminated. They had, after all, been reassured by the EPA that the air was safe. We know today that the air was far from safe. In fact, the dust cloud that engulfed the area was plagued with never before seen levels of toxins, including asbestos, benzene, lead, and hydrochloric acid.

A study was conducted by the Mount Sinai Medical Center in September of 2006. Of 9,500 First Responders who were surveyed, 70% were diagnosed with respiratory problems. Furthermore, a third of this population suffered from abnormal pulmonary function. This study also determined that those who arrived at the sight first had more severe respiratory complications.
(mesotheliomaweb.org)

Unfortunately, these heroes that sacrificed so much are not getting the financial support they deserve in a timely manner. Almost a decade later, many are struggling to get by as the government continues to delay assistance.

RD Legal Funding recently had the honor of providing settlement funding to one of 9/11’s First Responders. It is truly unfortunate that these heroes have to wait for the funds they rightfully deserve. Until the government streamlines this process, RD Legal will do everything in its power to promptly fund First Responders.

For more information about our settlement advancement program exclusively for 9/11 First Responders, please click here, or call us toll-free at (800) 565-5177. We look forward to helping in any way we can.

Mason, Michael. "The 9/11 Cover-Up." http://discovermagazine.com 7 Sep. 2007: n. pag. Web. 17 Jun 2011.

"9/11 and Asbestos Exposure." http://www.mesotheliomaweb.org n. pag. Web. 17 Jun 2011.

Copywright 2011 by RD Legal Funding, LLC

$55 Million Settlement for Florida Homeowners with Contaminated Drywall

Fri, 18 May 2012 06:50:25 GMT

Chinese Manufactured Drywall Products Liability Litigation, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, Case Number 09-md-2047

Numerous homeowners living in Florida who have suffered from contaminated Chinese drywall will split $55 million. The case has been settled with the funds being set aside by the Banner Supply Company, its partners, and insurers. According to a spokesperson for the plaintiff’s attorney, somewhere in the vicinity of 500 to 800 houses were provided Chinese drywall by the Banner Supply Company (Hals).

Drywall is used in construction primarily to build ceilings and walls. The tainted product has been blamed for damaging wiring and air conditioning units due to toxic fumes. This contaminated drywall was imported to help with rebuilding efforts after a string of destructive hurricanes, starting with Katrina in 2005. According to the plaintiffs’ attorneys, up to 100,000 houses have been impacted by this toxic drywall.

Banner denied liability, claiming that they were merely distributors of the drywall manufactured by the Knauf Group. This German company is one of the biggest manufacturers of building materials in the world.

In 2006, homeowners began noticing problems and complaining to Banner about their drywall. So Banner informed the Knauf Group. After some testing, Knauf declared the drywall to be safe and contaminant free. Upon receipt of this news, the Banner Supply Company signed an agreement freeing the Knauf Group of any liability related to the drywall.

According to court documents, the Knauf Group was aware that their drywall was contaminated and had the potential to cause immense property damage.

Russ Herman of Herman, Herman, Katz & Cotlar and counsel for the plaintiffs, anticipates additional settlements in the upcoming months with other liable parties.

Hals, Tom. "Florida homeowners with tainted drywall get $55 million." http://news.yahoo.com 14 Jun 2011: n. pag. Web. 16 Jun 2011.

Copywright 2011 by RD Legal Funding, LLC

Settlement Funding Offers Solution to Cash Flow Challenges of Securities Class Action Law Firms

Fri, 18 May 2012 06:50:25 GMT

By Roni Dersovitz, Esq.
CEO, RD Legal Funding

Have you considered settlement funding? If you’re a law firm that handles securities class action cases, you should.

The typical securities class action case takes approximately three to five years from the time the initial complaint is filed until conclusion, either with funds distributed to stockholders or by judgment or dismissal. In fact, some cases take even longer, especially when there are appeals.

Plaintiff attorneys representing such class actions are faced with a unique cash flow challenge. While there is a potential for considerable profits from legal fees, it takes significant time for the law firm to receive its share of the settlement. During this time, there are numerous expenses that must be paid to ensure that both the trial and the law firm continue to run smoothly.

To win the case, it is of paramount importance to have enough money to contend with deep-pocketed defense firms. This includes having adequate funds to pay expert witnesses, discovery costs, as well as day-to-day operating expenses.

While the trial goes on, it is important to continue to grow your law firm. Business expenses, such as employee salaries, rent, new hires and advertising are certainly not cheap, but necessary costs of doing business and expanding your case load.

To deal with this lag in payment, many firms turn to bank loans and other traditional financial products. Unfortunately, banks are usually unable to provide adequate funding, as they do not consider a firm’s case load as an asset.

Legal funding is a much more viable solution. One of the main players in the legal funding arena that focuses exclusively on settlement funding is RD Legal Funding, LLC, located just outside of Manhattan. RD Legal understands that your case load is your most valuable asset, so the firm will purchase your unpaid legal fees from settled cases through its proprietary Fee Acceleration program. You receive this settlement funding in just days, instead of waiting months or even years to receive payment. Settlement funding allows you to put money back into your law firm so you can continue to operate efficiently while expanding your business.

Unlike the process for traditional loans, RD Legal’s application process for settlement funding is fast and simple. Just fill out the brief online Fee Acceleration application. There are no monthly payments or upfront fees, so you owe nothing until your fee is paid. RD Legal even assumes the risk of the defendant’s non-payment, so you can take advantage of settlement funding with confidence.

For more information on settlement funding through RD Legal Funding, please call us toll-free at 1-800-565-5177.

Copywright 2011 by RD Legal Funding, LLC

Lawsuit Funding Solutions from RD Legal Funding

Fri, 18 May 2012 06:50:25 GMT

Our Company is Well Positioned to Deliver the Funding that Litigation Attorneys Need

Plaintiff’s attorneys seeking litigation funding face unique challenges. Due to the ongoing credit crisis, numerous sources of lawsuit funding have withered. Further, many lawsuit funding companies that are still in business have fortified their standards, making it almost impossible to obtain litigation funding.

We offer a simple solution . . . .

RD Legal Funding, a New Jersey-based company specializing in post-settlement legal funding and attorney cash management services, is well positioned to provide your law firm with lawsuit funding solutions.

“We have ample funds available, and innovative, affordable litigation funding solutions,” said Roni Dersovitz, Esq., founder and CEO of RD Legal Funding. “Lawsuit funding has been our specialty since 1997. Plaintiff's attorneys can rely on us for stable, competitive rates, a fast, hassle-free application process, and litigation funding with no points or upfront expenses.”

RD Legal Funding offers two popular lawsuit funding solutions:

Fee Acceleration, our proprietary form of litigation funding converts settled cases into immediate cash. Attorneys no longer need to wait for slow-paying defendants, administrative delays, or court approvals of fee distributions. RD Legal Funding has the financial resources to fund legal fees up to $20 million and beyond. Litigation funding via Fee Acceleration is available for virtually any type of case, including but not limited to securities class actions, mass torts, personal injury, negligence, medical malpractice, and product liability.

An Attorney’s Line of Credit provides the financial flexibility law firms need to maximize cash flow and capitalize on growth opportunities. A line of credit is available for any purpose at any time. Unlike banks and many competitors, RD Legal Funding is able to deliver the full credit line you need-from $500,000 to $10 million or more. Interest accrues only on outstanding balances.

“The secret of success for today’s fastest-growing law practices is not case management, but cash management,” said Mr. Dersovitz. “Lawsuit funding is the smartest tool that plaintiff’s attorneys can use to build their practice. RD Legal Funding has the financial stability to meet our clients’ needs for litigation funding today and well into the future.”

For more information about lawsuit funding solutions for your practice, please fill out the brief application at the top of this page, or call us at (800) 565-5177.

Written by David Smethie, Deal Origination Manager at RD Legal Funding, LLC.
Copywright 2011 by RD Legal Funding, LLC