Litigation

Strange things are afoot at the SSP!

• In May "the structured settlement watchdog"  reported that factoring intermediary Rnonda Bentzen was named to the Board of Directors of the Society of Settlement Planners after the information found its way into his "dog bowl" from a credible source.

• Both the SSP and other "industry mouthpiece" (and SSP member), Patrick Hindert were publicly silent about Bentzen's role on the Board, in much the same way that some SSP members were silent on their participation in taking of "kickbacks" from Bentzen for referrals of structured settlement factoring business which we have proven reduces the amount of money a desperate tort victim receives when they have to resort to using that method of liquidity.

• The structured settlement watchdog started a Ckuckers v Gobblers contest to measure the time elapsed before the SSP came clean on the appointment of a factoring company intermediary to its board. The clock is still running.

• In mid June a copy of an email from a former SSP President  was dropped into the structured settlement watchdog's bowl. The email represented prima facie evidence stated that Rhonda Bentzen was  stepping into the role of Treasurer of the SSP. See the June 24, 2010 post "Factoring Is "In The Money" At Society of Settlement Planners".

• This author also reported July 9, 2010 that Bentzen was soliciting members of the structured settlement and settlement planning industry with an offer of what appeared to be a variable securities product despite no record with FINRA or the SEC that she was licensed. He also rasied the question whether the materials provided to those solicited was "approved sales material".

On a recent visit to "the settlement planning dog park", the structured settlement watchdog learned from a  "deputy dawg",  that the minutes of the June 22, 2010 board meeting of the Society of Settlement Planners, circulated to all members of the SSP, recorded that Rhonda Bentzen WAS in attendance but listed merely as membership chairperson, a role that the factoring company intermediary has held for a few years.  the watchdog feels that trial lawyers need to know that the SSP money and membership appears "driving under the influence" of a factoring intermediary

Given the elapsed time since Rhonda Bentzen's "appointment" which the watchdog has confirmed from 4 independent sources within the SSP, and the clandestine manner in which the SSP appears to be operating publicly in this regard, what should the public, the trial lawyer community and the rest of the settlement industry believe about the SSP?