Facts on the Alliance Settlement Update
Last week, the Alliance of Retired Executives (AR EE) held an onlineinar on “taking the fight to cancer,” and this included a presentation on “Ally Lawsuit Update.” The presentation was designed to illustrate that lawsuits are not always the best way to go, and that sometimes the strategic lawsuits process should be pursued instead. During the presentation, I asked every single question possible, and I asked the question of whether or not anyone had ever sued a company in a personal injury lawsuit. The answer was, of course, no. There were, however, several interesting bits of information that support my point about why this is often the case.
First of all, there are many personal injury cases that result in nothing more than a slap on the wrist for the defendant, and there are also many instances where victims receive small awards that do not cover their lost wages and medical expenses.
A personal injury lawsuit is simply the process of recovering money that has been illegally taken from an individual through the use of fraudulent and tortious behavior by the defendant. This is often done by corporations who wish to avoid paying benefits to injured workers, or by lawyers who merely want to gain revenge for previous injuries.
Another fact that supports my argument is the amount of time that must pass before a case can be filed.
In a case that involves an injury to an individual, it can take many months and even years for a personal injury lawsuit to go to trial. This is especially true in a case such as a worker’s compensation claim. The courts are usually controlled by the insurance companies, and the companies are very busy with other matters. This often results in the delay of a settlement, and the awarding of too little money to the victim.
When I received the Ally Lawsuit Update email, I was quite shocked to see that it contained a referral to an alleged fraudulent lawsuit.
The email contained the claim that “Ally Lawsuit Funding” had obtained funding from “somebody” to file the lawsuit. I contacted the supposed “someone” and asked who they were, and was told they were an attorney. I was really surprised to learn this, because I had never heard of this company before.
A few days later, I met with the “Claims Consultant” from the Alliance Defending Fund.
During our meeting he admitted that there was indeed a funding source and told me that the Alliance Defending Fund usually spends thousands of dollars on a single lawsuit. He did not provide me with a detailed explanation as to how the money was spent, but did tell me that it was common for lawyers working with the Alliance Defending Fund to receive payment after the lawsuit is filed. I asked what the process entails and was told that it was typically simple. I asked if there were any fees associated with filing the lawsuit and was told “No”.
Now let me get a little more specific. I asked if the claims consultant receives any of the contingency fees awarded in the case? He answered “Yes” and then provided me with a stack of documents that proved that my lawsuit was indeed worth tens of thousands of dollars, and that my case was one of the best ones that ever got presented in that court. This confirms my belief that attorneys who have assisted the Alliance Defending Fund in defending their client’s cases actually receive a percentage of the case settlement.
Unfortunately for me, I am unable to present my case to this funding organization. Because of my injuries, I do not qualify to receive any of the contingency or base compensation awarded in most personal injury lawsuits. However, I am excited to know that the Alliance Defending Fund is doing their part in ensuring that victims who seek legal representation have access to quality legal counsel. By providing such assistance to the needy, the Alliance Defending Fund is living up to their word.
After reading the story of this Alliance lawsuit Update, you should be convinced that you can receive a percentage, if not all, of your case award when you file a lawsuit.
But, the question remains, what happens to the other defendants and the money the fund monies collected from the case? According to the details contained in the lawsuit filing package, only five out of eleven defendants are expected to receive any funds. The other four plaintiffs were granted a funding agreement, which essentially serves as a contract between the plaintiffs and the Alliance Defending Fund. When either party decides to withdraw their funding agreement, the other party will receive a default. Any payments made after the default will go to the original defendant.