by Structured Settlement Watchdog
A March 6, 2014 opinion by the New York Advisory Commission on Judicial Ethics said it was OK for a “not-for-profit association of legal and financial professionals involved in the structured settlement payment transfer process” to a judge’s travel and lodging expenses for two nights when the seated full time judge appears on a panel at the association’s annual meeting. Knowing of no other such association, the non-profit appears to be the National Association of Settlement Purchasers (NASP)
Judge Participation in Panel Discussion-Travel and Lodging Expenses Opinion 13-29
The Judge Requested the Ethics Opinion
Background: A full-time judge asked whether he may participate as a panelist at an annual conference of a not-for-profit association of legal and financial professionals involved in the structured settlement payment transfer process.
The panel will consist of three judges who will discuss a topic related to structured settlement annuity transfers. The association proposes to pay for the judge’s travel and lodging expenses for two nights. Background: The committee concluded that a full-time judge may accept an invitation to speak at the annual conference of a not-for-profit association of legal and financial professionals involved in the structured settlement payment transfer process. The association is permitted to pay the judge’s reasonable travel and lodging expenses. Community Service
Questions:
- Has this prospective panelist served as judge in any transfer hearings involving NASP members?
- Has this judge involved in any of the Paris & Chaiken cases that involved allegedly fraudulent transfer orders?
- How often does the judge have an in person hearing as part of determining if the structured settlement transfer is in the best interest of the payee and his or her dependents?