Peter Arnold's blog

The New York Times has an interesting article today about a novel effort in New York to speed resolution of malpractice cases:

On Sunday, The New York Times published a detailed article on the benefits of annuities.  Excerpts:

“Using standard assumptions, economists have shown that buyers of annuities are assured more annual income for the rest of their lives, compared with people who self-manage their portfolios. 

Here's a situation seen all too often: A spouse dies and the surviving spouse must adjust to a permanently lower standard of living. Women feel a disproportionate impact because, on average, they outlive men by three to four years and face longer periods of disability later in life

That's the focus of a new Wall Street Journal article by Anne Tergesen, "Plan Finances for Surviving Spouse":

Among many excellent presentations at the 2011 NSSTA Annual, Pacific Life tax counsel and former NSSTA Legislation & Regulation Committee chair Tom Ronce offered keen insights into the role that state guaranty funds have in protecting future structured settlement payments.

This is a protection that anyone considering a structured settlement should understand. To access Tom's slide presentation, please click here.

The 2011 NSSTA Annual was a ringing success with nearly 250 members, several nationally prominent speakers and the beautiful southern California weather.  For a slide show of memorable photos from the meeting, please click here.

NSSTA sometimes works behind the scenes to affect the outcome of structured settlement litigation in which neither the Association nor any of its members is directly involved.  A recent summary judgment ruling by the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania offers an apt illustration.

Four longtime structured settlement professionals with a combined 90 years experience in the structured settlement industry have joined NSSTA’s Board of Directors, the association announced today.  The four are:

On Monday, Washington Governor Chris Gregoire (D) and leaders in the state legislature announced a landmark agreement to reform the state’s workers’ compensation system, with structured settlements having a major role in the reform. 

Lawmakers debated for weeks on how to cut costs and improve efficiency and this deal projects savings of approximately $900 million during the next four years. 

A recent Tax Court opinion illustrates the need for good advice concerning whether to apply for Social Security disability benefits when one also is receiving workers’ compensation benefits for the same injury – and that it may make sense not to seek Social Security benefits if doing so would result in a minimal benefit that is outweighed by additional taxes.

That is the gist of recent discussions by two members of the NSSTA Legal Committee, concerning the opinion in Sherar v. Commissioner, T.C. Summ. Op. 2011-44, 2011 WL 1314677 (U.S. Tax Ct. Apr. 6, 2011).

Among the biggest advantages of a structured settlement are (1) its financial security and (2) the fact that income is exempt from federal and state taxes.

Too bad that in The Colorado Springs Gazette this morning, attorney Jim Flynn ignores both of these obvious advantages.