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July 17, 2008

The Spectacular Backfire of A "Marketing Strategy" to Trial Lawyers

I have been supplied with a copy of a 2007 New York Supreme Court Queens County Opinion in Garcia, Sebastian (inf) et ano v New York City Health & Hospitals Corporation (Index 26721/2000)- along with a series of other Orders which a number of settlement planners and structured settlement brokers apparently "thrust out" en masse at the American Association for Justice (AAJ) meeting in Philadelphia to disparage Richard Halpern.

What is so special about one decision that the settlement planners and settlement brokers apparently felt it worth expending more energy than fighting factoring industry marketing abuse?

I contacted Rich Halpern for comment and what may shock these  "stray cat" settlement planners and structured settlement brokers is that Rich Halpern says:

"I wanted to thank these brokers personally.  The reaction of many of the lawyers to whom they handed this document out has been the opposite of what they intended. We have picked up more new business as a result of the reaction to the actions of these brokers. Some came to us having perceived these as the desperate actions of desperate people. They wanted to find out what we were doing that was so good that these brokers and planners had to stoop to this level to try and beat us"

Questioned about the above cited case Halpern said:

  • The case was mishandled by the structured settlement annuity broker who was involved in the case
  • Halpern not allowed by the plaintiff attorney to explain product to judge.
  • Halpern not called to testify
  • Halpern never met with nor was allowed to meet with plaintiff
  • The manner in which the case was handled was peculiar to the particular law firm
  • Halpern would never deal with the particular structured settlement broker again because he was so incompetent in handling the above cited case.

Thank God the "thrusters" they weren't around when Babe Ruth played. I read where he once struck out with the bases loaded. Yet I doubt even THAT pitcher had the guts to point THAT out when The Babe was elected one of the first five players in Baseball Hall of Fame.

And to which "marketing genius" shall we credit this "subtle strategy"?   



Posted at 03:28 PM in Cleaning Up "The Structured Settlement Neighborhood", Marketing Faux Pas, Settlement Advertising Wall of Shame, Settlement Planner Business Practices, Structured Settlement Broker Business Practices |

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  • New York Insurance Advertising law requires the full name of the Insurer to be listed along with the city and state of the principal office. Stating that you represent these fine companies using Insurance company logos without the preceding information are also illegal
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