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And the Survey Says… Part One: Fifty Years of Structured Settlement Research and the Evolution of a Settlement Planning Profession
Industry NewsCase StudiesSettlement PlanningStructured SettlementsOctober 29, 2025by Patrick Hindert

And the Survey Says… Part One: Fifty Years of Structured Settlement Research and the Evolution of a Settlement Planning Profession

Introduction Nearly fifty years have passed since the first structured settlement studies sought to measure how periodic payments could reshape personal injury compensation. In that half-century, the industry has evolved from a defense-side experiment in claims management into a broader settlement planning profession, one that integrates claimant financial security with tax efficiency, government benefits protection,...

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Structured Settlements, SSI Income and DRA Annuities: Building a Durable Federal Framework
Government BenefitsCase StudiesStructured SettlementsSeptember 12, 2025by Patrick Hindert

Structured Settlements, SSI Income and DRA Annuities: Building a Durable Federal Framework

I. Introduction: From System Shifts to Strategic Opportunity This article is the fifth installment in our six-part series on how structured settlements interact with public benefit planning. Article 1 and Article 2 explored system-wide shifts; the One Big Beautiful Bill’s (OBBB) expansion of state authority over Medicaid and the Social Security Administration’s (SSA’s) 2025 reforms...

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Structured Settlements and Public Benefits: How We Got Here And Why It Matters Now
Industry NewsCase StudiesGovernment BenefitsStructured SettlementsAugust 15, 2025by Patrick Hindert

Structured Settlements and Public Benefits: How We Got Here And Why It Matters Now

By Patrick Hindert and George Luecke Introduction: Understanding the Path to Today’s Challenges This article is the fourth in a six-part series examining how structured settlements interact with public benefit programs in an era of rapid legislative, judicial, and administrative change. As a reminder: Article 1 introduced the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBB), explaining...

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Structured Settlements and Medicaid: Building the Legal Framework for Benefit Protection
Government BenefitsCase StudiesIndustry NewsSettlement PlanningAugust 11, 2025by Patrick Hindert

Structured Settlements and Medicaid: Building the Legal Framework for Benefit Protection

By Patrick Hindert & George Luecke I. Introduction: A Growing Market Meets a Shifting Regulatory Landscape In 2024, the structured settlement market reached a historic milestone, generating $9.5 billion in annuity premium, the highest annual volume to date. Some industry experts have suggested the industry could reach an aspirational goal of $15 billion in annual...

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Jury Verdicts and the Evolving Role of Punitive Damages 
Case StudiesNewsStructured SettlementsApril 9, 2025by Patrick Hindert

Jury Verdicts and the Evolving Role of Punitive Damages 

Introduction Historically rare, punitive damages are intended to punish egregious misconduct and deter future wrongdoing. Recently, however, jury verdicts—including both compensatory and punitive damages—have garnered significant public attention, indicating a possible shift in jury attitudes and expectations. Although punitive damages traditionally appear in only 2–5% of civil jury trials, recent verdicts suggest juries increasingly seek...

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The Patel Memo – Twenty Years Later
Case StudiesJuly 29, 2021by Patrick Hindert

The Patel Memo – Twenty Years Later

Daniel Anders, President of the National MSP Network (NMSP) sent a newsletter last week alerting this writer and other NMSP members of an historic settlement planning anniversary. On July 23, 2001, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released, under the name of Parashar B. Patel, Deputy Director, Purchasing Policy Group for CMS, what...

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Case Study: Catastrophic Injury
Structured SettlementsCase StudiesSeptember 4, 2020by Patrick Hindert

Case Study: Catastrophic Injury

Catastrophic Injury A mother and her five-year-old son were in a car accident in 2018 and both suffered extensive injuries. The mother sustained multiple broken bones, including several ribs. The child was in critical condition with injuries that required him to be placed into a medically-induced coma. Ultimately the five-year-old needed multiple surgeries to correct...

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