Structured settlements

Imperial Structured Settlements, a leader in the advance funding of structured settlement payment rights and assignable annuities, recently expanded its account executive department to capitalize on the growing demand for its services.

The addition of new employees provides not only an important growth opportunity for the Company, but also positions Imperial as the industry leader.

“We have built a reputation for providing excellent customer service,” stated Senior Vice President, Deborah Benaim. “To continue delivering this level of service and meet the needs of our ever growing customer base, strategically it only made sense for us to continue to add new team members.”

“As the Imperial family continues to grow, employees are enjoying their days more, having fun, and leaving each day with a sense of fulfillment and pride. We take great initiative to ensure that our account executives do not work extended hours or weekends.”

The current economic climate adds to our organization’s momentum for growth. With the nationwide unemployment rate now the highest it’s been in a quarter-century, rising credit card debt and an astonishing amount of foreclosures, people are extremely motivated to address their financial needs.

“We’ve reached a time when more people than ever are facing financial hardships. I can’t tell you how many people call in and say ‘I can’t believe this is happening to me.’ We are getting more calls from people facing eviction and foreclosure.”

“Our customers are finding that they can better their lives by selling a portion of their future payments to get a lump sum today,” continued Benaim. “With the money they raise from the transaction they can create a brighter future for themselves and their families.”

About Imperial Structured Settlements

Imperial Structured Settlements services help customers enhance their lives and achieve goals they have set for their financial future through the purchase of structured settlement payment rights and certain annuities from individuals in exchange for an agreed-upon amount of cash. People who settle a personal injury, wrongful death, or medical malpractice claim often receive their payments from an insurance company over a predetermined period of time. Imperial Structured Settlements is based in Boca Raton, Florida. For more information, please visit our web site at www.ImperialStructuredSettlements.com.

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Another chapter is closed in the story of a 17-year-old North Branch boy who died by carbon monoxide poisoning at his family’s home on 412th Street on Dec. 5, 2006.

In January 2008, Mitchell Carlson and Penny Pliscott, parents of Andrew Carlson, sued the installer and manufacturer of the furnace that was considered at fault for the death.

On Feb. 26 of this year, the family settled out of court for a structured annuity sum of $750,000, according to court documents, a third of which went to Carlson and Pliscott’s attorneys, Burke and Thomas, PLLP. Which plaintiffs paid the settlement is confidential, though.

Incident sparked new state law
The tragic incident was a catalyst for a new law requiring carbon monoxide detectors in homes across the state.

In 2006, the state legislature enacted a law that required new home constructions and multi-family homes to have at least one carbon monoxide detector within 10 feet of each bedroom.

In 2008, that law expanded to include existing single-family homes.

Third-party suit
In response to the January 2008 suit, the installer of the furnace, Indoor Comfort Systems of Wyoming, sued the City of North Branch, alleging that its building inspector negligently issued a Certificate of Occupancy for the home. The manufacturer of the furnace, NY Thermal of Ontario, Canada, joined this suit.

This was dismissed in February 2009. By state law, cities are generally immune from negligence claims because the issuance of certificates of occupancy are considered “discretionary,” according to the court documents. In other words, when a city issues a certificate of occupancy, it is doing so as a general act of public good and not guaranteeing that each structure strictly adheres to safety standards.

Carlson’s and Pliscott’s lawyer, Richard Thomas, said this secondary lawsuit was frustrating because it complicated things, but also said he and his clients are satisfied with settlement.

“The installer claim delayed things,” he said, “but it’s their right to pursue it.”

The timeline
According to court documents, the following occurred:

The timeline of the events begins with Carlson and Pliscott’s intention to build a new modular home on their property.

The couple retained Tony Kubat (doing business as Twin Oaks Construction) to be general contractor, who set Dec. 1, 2006, as the date the city building inspector would come to do a final inspection and presumably issue a certificate of occupancy. Upon issuance, Kubat allegedly told the family they could move into their new home.

The couple’s old home, which was residing on the same property as their new one, had to be rendered uninhabitable because North Branch zoning ordinances did not allow both homes to coexist on the property.

To do this, contractors had to destroy the septic tank.

Kubat was responsible for overseeing the framing of the garage, the insulation of the basement walls, shingling the garage roof, scheduling subcontractors and as an overall supervisor of the project.

He hired Charles Friend of Indoor Comfort Systems to install a boiler in the new home. It was a combination wood-gas furnace.

As he was working on the installation, Friend indicated that the task was going to take longer than he originally had thought.

On Dec. 1 (inspection day), Friend told Kubat and Carlson that he was not sure he would be able to finish the installation by the end of the day.

Mark Jones, a city building inspector at the time, inspected the home and recommended the issuance of the certificate of occupancy.

What parties involved were unaware of was, according to court documents, that Friend had not done the following three tasks:

• Installing a natural gas-to-propane conversion kit;

• Hooking up the air intake vent piping from the hole in the wall to the furnace to allow for proper ventilation;

• Installing elbows on the exterior air exhaust and air intake pipes to push the air away from the house.

In court papers, Friend insisted that was given improper instruction on installation at a NY Thermal seminar, and NY Thermal counters that Friend properly installed it.

On Dec. 1, 2006, North Branch issued a certificate of occupancy and, because the Carlson-Pliscott family’s old home was uninhabitable, they moved into the new one.

On Dec. 3, Pliscott and Carlson started becoming sick. Two of their three children complained of headaches and vomiting.

On Dec. 4, Andrew Carlson came home and went to his room.

On Dec. 5, Carlson and Pliscott discovered Andrew Carlson’s body.

An ECM Post Review Web-only story on that same day filled in some of the gaps.

At around 12:36 a.m. on the morning of Dec. 5, Carlson was arrested for a suspected DWI.

According to the North Branch Police Department (NBPD) at the time, the arrest took place after employees of the I-35 interchange Holiday Stationstore called 911. Carlson had apparently hit a post in the parking lot of the gas station with his car.

NBPD Sgt. Rick Sapp responded and performed a breathalyzer test on Carlson.

Although the results of that test were not released, the NBPD said that Carlson displayed probable cause for the arrest through his actions at the time.

He was taken to an area hospital for a blood draw before being booked into the Chisago County Jail for fourth degree DWI at 3:15 a.m.

NBPD Chief Steve Forner speculated Tuesday morning that, in retrospect, what Sapp was observing in Carlson may have been the early signs of CO poisoning.

Upon release, Carlson was transported home from the jail by a relative.

Sometime later, Mitchell Carlson and Pliscott discovered that the two younger children were feeling ill.

At some point in the early morning, NBPD said it was believed that one or both of the heads of the household went to a local gas station to pick up soda or juice to cure the upset stomachs and returned to the home.

Around 6 a.m., Carlson and Pliscott discovered Andrew Carlson, apparently already dead, and transported the younger children to the Conoco gas station in North Branch where they called 911.

The Post Review could not contact Carlson or Pliscott by press time.

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Lawsuit Financial Corporation (www.lawsuitfinancial.com), a leading national litigation funding company, today announces that investments with steady returns are available, even in this 'down' market. The company has a long history of steady returns and is now making this investment opportunity available to new investors.

Lawsuit Financial Corporation (www.lawsuitfinancial.com), a leading national litigation funding company, today announces that investments with steady returns are available, even in this 'down' market. The company has a long history of steady returns and is now making this investment opportunity available to new investors.

Lawsuit Financial provides financial relief to pending litigants, who through no fault of their own, need financial assistance, but do not qualify for a traditional loan. Legal Funding is meant to help prevent plaintiffs from settling a case too early - for too little - just to get their bills paid. In this period of credit tightening and loan restrictions, legal finance is more important than ever.

Our goal at Lawsuit Financial is to help those families who are involved in a lawsuit, can no longer pay for the necessities of life, and who may not qualify for a traditional loan
In order to help these people, we rely on having investment
to help provide capital for people in need and who have a lawsuit pending in the court or claims systems. This is an excellent opportunity for people looking to invest in something that serves an important need and, at the same time, has provided excellent investment returns.
"Our goal at Lawsuit Financial is to help those families who are involved in a lawsuit, can no longer pay for the necessities of life, and who may not qualify for a traditional loan," states attorney Mark Bello, owner and founder of Lawsuit Financial. "In order to help these people, we rely on having investment "partners," to help provide capital for people in need and who have a lawsuit pending in the court or claims systems. This is an excellent opportunity for people looking to invest in something that serves an important need and, at the same time, has provided excellent investment returns."

Lawsuit funding is, typically, non-recourse (repayment is contingent upon litigation outcome); the plaintiff gets the money he/she desperately needs without immediate obligation to repay. If the case is resolved successfully, repayment of principal and profit owed is made. Legal finance allows a case to proceed through the legal process without pressure to settle early and attempts to ensure improved case results. If the plaintiff loses the case, the company excuses the advance, but provides insurance for the risk.

"Investors need to know that Lawsuit Financial is one of the most experienced lawsuit finance companies in the marketplace. Underwriting experience is key to producing solid investment returns and our staff has well over 50 years of experience in handling legal issues and legal funding. Investors should see excellent returns in addition to the added pleasure or 'bonus' of providing assistance to people in desperate need of important living expenses such as medical care and prescriptions, food, shelter, transportation, and clothing, as they wait for a settlement or adjudication of their litigation," Bello added.

The availability and amount of funding is based upon case type and strategic timing. Mark Bello, a 32-year trial lawyer veteran, regularly consults with plaintiffs and attorneys to discuss whether litigation funding is the right fit for them.

About Lawsuit Financial
Lawsuit Financial (www.lawsuitfinancial.com) is celebrating 10 years as specialists in providing solid litigation investment returns while delivering lawsuit funding to cash-strapped plaintiffs, allowing them to focus on their pending case - not on their financial responsibilities. Lawsuit Financial will provide necessities of life funding for many types of litigation including auto accidents, premises liability/slip & fall, malpractice, personal injury, product liability, wrongful death, auto accident, and employment suits, among others. Because of our significant expertise, we can fund cases that others can't or won't. Lawsuit Financial may also fund litigation costs, structured settlements, expert witness fees, and pending attorney fees.

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Patrick and Paul Farber, structured settlement brokers with Ringler Associates, have been named the first corporate diversity partners with the Litigation Counsel of America (LCA).

The LCA is an invitation-only trial lawyer honorary society established in 2005 to reflect the new face of the American bar. Membership is limited to 3,500 Fellows, representing less than one-half of one percent of American lawyers. The LCA is aggressively inclusive embracing all demographics within law, including race, sex, orientation, age and national origin.

Corporate Diversity Partners provide support services and technologies to the LCA's networking gatherings, conferences, scholarship programs and award presentations. Diversity Partners share the LCA's belief that diversity in the legal profession enhances and advances the litigation process, the pursuit and administration of justice and the rule of law.

"Without the commitment from partners like Pat and Paul and their willingness to step forward to champion LCA efforts, we would be limited in our outreach and recognition programs for women and minorities," says G. Steven Henry, Executive Director and General Counsel of LCA. "We hope others who see diversity as a critical component in the practice of law will follow their lead."

“We are honored to have Patrick and Paul Farber as Corporate Diversity Partners,” says Patrick E. Stockalper, partner in the Manhattan Beach, Calif. law firm of Reback, McAndrews, Kjar, Warford & Stockalper, LLP and president of the LCA. Stockalper added, “The strength of the LCA is premised not only on its superb attorney membership, but also on the commitment of its partners.”

Henry notes that although the country has seen substantial growth among women, minorities, cultures and orientations within the bar, recognizing these members for their legal excellence has not kept pace. "The LCA is intent on fostering mutual respect among and across each segment of the legal profession, and to make the future even brighter than the past," says Henry. "The LCA's goal is to create voices of advocacy that are heard without bias and without predisposition."

Ringler Associates is the world's oldest and largest settlement annuity firm. Brothers Patrick and Paul Farber, with offices in Southern California, work with attorneys from around the county in creating structured settlements for medical malpractice, personal injury, product liability, workers' compensation, mass torts and construction defect cases as well as for non-physical injury cases.

"We've been working with attorneys and their clients for more than 25 years and see firsthand the tremendous value that diverse legal representations bring to the negotiating process," says Patrick Farber. "The LCA's inclusive efforts are just what the legal bar needs."

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The Association of Kenya Insurers has urged the Minister for Finance to consider changing the law to allow for more time to pay claimants under the third party cover


The Association of Kenya Insurers has appealed to Finance minister Uhuru Kenyatta to change the law that requires insurance companies to pay claimants within 90 days of reporting a claim.

The association’s point of disagreement is not the 90 days but the fact they have to honour a claim from a person, who might not necessarily be their insured.

Currently, it is possible for someone with a third party motor vehicle insurance cover - in case of a minor accident - to claim compensation from the other party’s insurer.

“This is a claimant making a claim and not the insured making it difficult for the insurance to get all documentation within the required 90 days,” said AKI executive director Tom Gichuhi.

“If he presents me with an assessment report, a police abstract and an invoice from the garage, that is the claimant I am supposed to pay even without checking the authenticity of the documents.”

To fight fraud and ensure timely settlement of claims, Mr Gichuhi said, insurers want the minister to replace the word “claimant” with the “insured or his legal representative.”

Section 23 of the Insurance Act says that where a claimant has submitted all relevant documents, every insurer shall in respect of a claim arising from a policy issued by it, admit or deny liability, determine the amounts due, the identity of the claimant and pay the claim within 90 days of the date of the reporting of the claim.

“We wish to propose that this ought to refer to the insured in respect of general insurance business and to a claimant in respect of life insurance business,” the association says in its 2009/10 Budget proposal.

Mr Gichuhi said the special case for life is the possibility that the insured might not be alive.

Insurers would like the clause to be reworded such that where a claimant, in respect of life insurance business or an insured in respect of general insurance business has submitted all relevant documents, every insurer shall in respect of a claim arising from a policy issued by it, admit or deny liability.

Where liability is admitted, the insurer will determine the amounts due, the identity of the claimant and pay the claim within 90 days of the date of the reporting of the claim.

Claim settlement has in the past been an issue of concern leading to stern warning by former Finance minister Amos Kimunya in his 2008/2009 Budget last year.

He said that some insurance companies take too long to pay or in some cases don’t honour claims submitted by the insured person even when the court has ruled in favour of the insured.

To take action on such companies, the minister empowered the Commissioner of Insurance to levy a penalty of five per cent of the amount awarded by the court if the claim is not paid after 90 days.

“To further deter the habit of failure to honour such claims, I propose to give more powers to the commissioner to initiate the process of winding up of such an insurance company in the event that the company fails to pay both the awarded amount and the penalty within the stipulated period,” said the minister.

Specify amount

For the umpteenth time, the association has asked the Finance minister to introduce structured compensation in motor vehicle third party insurance.

Structured compensation would specify the maximum amount an insurer can pay depending on the degree of injury.

The association commended the government’s for introducing a cap on liability for third party injury claims at Sh3 million per person per claim under Section 5 (iv).

There, however, still exists a disparity in the manner in which an injury or death claim is settled under Cap 405, it said.

To address this problem, the association proposes that a mechanism for structured payments be introduced under the Act similar to that prescribed under the recently enacted Work Injury Benefits Act, 2007 which shall not exceed the maximum prescribed under Section 5(iv).

“We further propose that no other proceedings should be filed after a claim is settled in accordance with the requirements of the structured payments under Cap 405,” it said.

The association has requested the minister to recognise by law AKI, Association of Insurance Brokers of Kenya (AIBK) and Insurance Institute of Kenya so that they can enforce their codes of conduct.

With the recent establishment of the Insurance Regulatory Authority, the association says that its legal recognition and that of AIBK, which players have been pursuing for many years, should now be accorded priority.

“This recognition will provide a means of strengthening governance of the industry through these bodies,” Mr Gichuhi said.

“Such recognition should be granted under the Insurance Act, as is the case in both Tanzania and Uganda.”

The recognition is expected to help create a legally acknowledged platform from which the industry would be able to engage the insurance regulator in continuous consultation and dialogue on matters concerning the orderly conduct of insurance business and sustainable growth of the industry.

It would further require every licensed insurer to subscribe to and conform to AKI’s code of conduct.

In addition, an insurer who refuses, neglects or fails to join the association or fails to conduct their business in accordance with sound insurance principles, practices and ethics prescribed by each respective association, may be suspended by the authority from transacting insurance business.

AKI also proposes the introduction of a requirement that every licensed broker should be a member of the Association of Insurance Brokers of Kenya and should subscribe to and conform to the association’s code of conduct.

Suspend broker

The authority may suspend a broker who fails to join the association or defaults in his or her obligation or fails to conduct their business in accordance with sound insurance principles, practices and ethics prescribed by each respective association.

Source

Have you heard that some of the most lucrative financial jobs are not there on Wall Street by any means? These are insurance jobs. Insurance is a multimillion dollar business that hires over 3 million individuals in the United States only. Since the population becomes older and wealth increases, the requirement of insurance professionals would rise significantly. This is really good news if you are mulling over taking up insurance as a career. Insurance jobs involve assisting business and individuals to handle risk for saving themselves from severe losses and to predict risk in the future. A career in the domain of insurance is not only individually satisfying, but also financially satisfactory.

Insurance is a steady but active industry that offers a wealth of progress and career options. From management programs to administrative support, from information technology to sales and marketing, from customer service to accounting – anything you wish to perform in business, you are able to do it in the insurance sector.

You can assist the clients to know their insurance requirements, clarify the choices to them and confidently help them buy suitable insurance policies. You have the option to work in a range of domains in insurance such as a sales representative, an underwriter, a customer service representative, an asset manager or an actuary. An idea that is continuously accentuated by the insurance experts is that the industry is about assisting people when they require it very much. The conventional image of a polished, dodgy and cleverly talking insurance salesperson is mostly an idea of the past.

Principal domains of prospect are health insurance, automobile insurance, property and casualty insurance (P&C) and life insurance.