Structured Settlements 4Real®Blog 2026

Structured settlements expert John Darer reviews the latest structured settlements and settlement planning information and news, and provides expert opinion and highly regarded commentary. that is spicy, Informative, irreverent and effective for over 20 years.

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The STRUCTURED SETTLEMENTS 4REAL® Blog is a highly regarded source for structured settlement news, information, and commentary, led by structured settlement and settlement planning subect mater expert John Darer CLU ChFC MSSC CeFT RSP CLTC. With two decades of operation, the blog and 4structures.com are recognized as comprehensive resources, offering detailed guides and specialized insights. Established in 2005, the blog caters to a broad audience, including legal professionals, injured individuals, families, and various stakeholders, providing reviews and opinions on settlement planning. John Darer, President of 4structures.com LLC, is a seasoned structured settlement expert with over 40 years of financial services experience and 31 years specializing in structured settlements. Based in Stamford, CT, he is a Certified Financial Transitionist and Registered Settlement Planner, holding insurance licenses in 45 states and the District of Columbia. John Darer is dedicated to transparency and advocacy, he emphasizes the importance of engaging trained and licensed professionals for settlement planning, offering valuable insights through his investigative journalism and professional commentary.

Kendall Coffey Asked To Prove What He Said (Or Failed To Say) by Structured Settlement Watchdog

by John Darer CLU ChFC MSSC RSP

What’s with Kendall Coffey?

The legal analyst and former United States Attorney dissed the structured settlement industry in late 2009 in his representation of the former law partners of convicted Ponzi felon Scott Rothstein, by labeling what Rothstein was peddling, structured settlements. The label appeared in a civil complaint although, in my opinion, the description attributed to the alleged transactions described in such document could not reasonably have been considered structured settlements by anyone knowlegeable on the subject. The problem for those of us in the industry is the potential for misperception by those less knowledgeable on the subject.

The criminal complaint against Scott Rothstein mentioned NOTHING about structured settlements

Why has Kendall Coffey proliferated the confusion, in the interest of self promotion, by continuing to post a video interview with Fox News that suggests that Rothstein was actually selling structured settlements? I’ve asked Kendall Coffey to prove it, take down the video, or correct the inaccuracy which led to a storm of misinformation from the national and South Florida Press that we continue to fight to this day.

The Scott Rothstein plea agreement signed and dated January 25, 2010 mentioned NOTHING about structured settlements

The following parties signed Rothstein’s plea agreement

Paul F. Schwartz Assistant U.S. Attorney

Jeffrey K. Kaplan, Assistant U.S. Attorney

Lawrence D. LaVenccho, Assistant U.S. Attorney

Marc Nurik, Attorney for Defendant

Scott W. Rothstein, Defendant

Structured Settlement Watchdog John Darer’s March 30, 2011 email to Kendall Coffey

Following is an email that I sent to Kendall Coffey on March 30, 2011

From: structures@aol.com To: kcoffey@coffeyburlington.com
CC: info@nssta.com, vaughn@nssta.com, mbracy@setcap.com, mkelly@sfainc.com, pbrinkmann@bizjournals.com
Sent: 3/30/2011 12:52:33 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time
Subj: Scott Rothstein posting on your website
 

Dear Mr. Coffey,
 
In 2009 you filed a complaint against Scott Rothstein on behalf of your clients, in which you used the term “structured settlements” to describe transactions which could not be defined by anyone with knowledge on the subject as structured settlements. However, they could best described as pre settlement funding transactions not structured settlements.
 
As you probably know the criminal complaint against Rothstein contained nothing about structured settlements  https://structuredsettlements.blog/2009/12/01/scott-rothstein-arrested-criminal-complaint-contains-nothing-about-structured-settlements-boo-yah/
 
It is my understanding that on November 8, 2009, Mr. Alan Sakowitz appeared on WPLG-TV to discuss the Rothstein case with you and reporter Michael Putney. During the discussion, when you suggested that Rothstein was selling “structured settlements,” we understand that Sakowitz corrected you, noting that the legal settlements in question could not have been structured settlements.
  
AmLaw Daily journalist Brian Baxter reported November 16, 2009 that ” Coffey explains that Rothstein sold structured settlements in sexual harassment and qui tam/whistleblower suits to investors, some of them hedge funds”. “Rothstein promised people double their money back or something like a double-digit return in a finite timeframe,” Coffey says. The finite time frame was under 6 months, returns impossible with legitimate structured settlements.
 
Thus as the structured settlement industry watchdog I question why a distinguished attorney like you would continued to proliferate what appears to be misinformation by posting your video on Fox News Live and a transcript on your website where the interviewer asks you. “Now you’ve got this lawyer, Mr. Rothstein, also trying to sell structured settlements to people”  (emphasis added)
 
In the wake of the Madoff scandal, your statements necessitated a massive media counter blitz to stem the media “virus” appeared to have been triggered by your statements, actions or inactions. As part of a group of practitioners who serve injury victims for over 20 years, we simply cannot have someone associate structured settlements with a Ponzi scheme, if inaccurate.
 

If you have written proof of offering circulars or testimony that you can share that Rothstein actually offered structured settlements that can justify your continued posting please supply them.

 
If you cannot supply proof within 10 days,  kindly remove the web page in question or, please add an asterisk to the term “structured settlements” ,correct the inaccuracy and notify us by return email.
 
Those copied to this email include executives with the National Structured Settlements Trade Association and the President of the National Association of Settlement Purchasers, all of whom share an interest in seeing that structured settlements are properly defined in the media. I have further copied Paul Brinkmann of the South Florida Business Journal who is a local reporter with an expressed interest in this story.
 
Very truly yours
 

 

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