News · hanfordsentinel.com

Circling like shark : Companies are buying up LA County $4 billion sex abuse settlement

Funding companies are contacting victims by phone and Facebook, offering lump sums now in exchange for the right to collect future installment payments from LA County's $4 billion sex abuse settlement. According to lead attorney Ray Boucher, more than 180 victims nationwide have sold their payouts to about a dozen companies, and some have given up a significant share. The discount rates cited range from 9% to 11%, and court filings show most sellers receive about 80% of the amount sold; one Gardena man agreed to sell $90,400 for $25,000, which the funder called a mistake, saying he would receive about 72%. California judges must approve such sales, and lawyers argue the contracts leave questions about attorney fees, which typically take about 40%, unanswered. Payouts for two law firms behind most of the claims have been paused pending probes, leaving thousands in limbo.

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Original headline: Circling like shark : Companies are buying up LA County $4 billion sex abuse settlement

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