JG Wentworth Sued For Deceptive Trade Practices

BOCA RATON, Fla., May 17, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- JG Wentworth parent JGWPT Holdings has been accused of engaging in widespread deceptive trade practices in a recently filed lawsuit.(1) A longtime industry participant alleges Peachtree and Wentworth deceive consumers into believing they are competing with one other, when in fact they are sharing databases which are used to support high rates imposed on consumers. After acquiring their major direct competitor, Settlement Funding, L.L.C. in June 2011, Wentworth fired 153 employees, virtually Peachtree's entire structured settlement business group, while continuing to market under the former "Peachtree" name using Wentworth's staff, confusing customers in the process, according to the Structured Settlement Institute.

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Paul McHugh, Vice President of Sales & Marketing at RSL, commented, "Customers call Peachtree and then they call Wentworth, thinking that they are getting competitive bids.  What customers don't realize is that they are calling the same company.  Peachtree and Wentworth don't compete; in fact they are commonly owned and staffed by each other's employees and together claim a 70% market share. They work cooperatively, collectively and out of the same office to ensure that the customer gets the least value for their future payments." 

Today, JG Wentworth and the remnants of Peachtree operate in lock step, despite the public perception that they are competing with one another. JG Wentworth was insufficiently capitalized and filed for bankruptcy protection in 2009 while owned by JLL Partners, Inc. because it could not meet its financial obligations.  After emerging from bankruptcy and still owned by JLL Partners, Wentworth purchased Peachtree in June 2011, which had also fallen on hard times because of ill-advised venturing into life settlements. Today, JG Wentworth continues to be controlled along with Peachtree Settlement Funding by New York based investment fund, JLL Partners.

"What this means for those seeking to sell their structured settlement or annuity or lottery payments for an upfront lump sum is that choosing a structured settlement factoring company has to be carefully considered," commented McHugh.  "Doing business with Wentworth or Peachtree means you are dealing with a single company that has not been able to meet its financial obligations in recent years. In fact, in 2009 Wentworth sent out hundreds of letters to customers abandoning transactions underway because of its inability to fund court ordered transfers. Finding a company that has both the financial resources and the desire to deal with you honestly and honorably is essential."

JLL Partners' controlled companies have recently experienced a series of setbacks in the courts where they have continued their anti-consumer practices.  Wentworth's deceptive tactics include trying to block their customers from even talking with competitors offering more money for the customers' payments, and then using the court system to interfere with structured settlement transactions underway with competitors offering better deals. In response to such actions, a Texas court upheld the right for RSL Funding, LLC, to offer former Wentworth clients more money for their future payments.(2)

Repeated inquiry to counsel for JG Wentworth and Peachtree, L. Bradley Hancock, a partner in Greenberg Traurig's Houston office, resulted in a demand that this information not be publicly disclosed.

(1). Case No. 2006-23366, 113th Judicial District Court, Harris County, TX
(2). Case No. 2009-78934, 334th Judicial District Court, Harris County, TX

For further information, contact the Structured Settlement Institute (SSI), a not-for-profit organization established to educate sellers of structured settlements regarding fair and equitable practices among providers of structured settlement transfers.                   

Structured Settlement Institute
Boca Raton, FL
1-800-409-1975

SOURCE Structured Settlement Institute