Lawsuit Funding

What Happens to Your Lawsuit Funding When a Trial Gets Delayed?

Posted on by Fast Funds, Inc.
A woman reviews legal case files beside scales of justice in a courtroom.
15
Oct

If your trial gets delayed after you receive lawsuit funding, you do not have to repay your Fast Funds cash advance simply because the original trial date changed. Your funding remains subject to the agreement you signed, and repayment is tied to a favorable financial recovery from your case.

Fast Funds provides non-recourse lawsuit cash advances. There are no monthly payments, and Fast Funds states that it does not charge interest or place restrictions on how long it will wait for a case to conclude.

A woman reviews legal case files beside scales of justice in a courtroom.

A trial delay can still create a financial problem. Your case may remain unresolved for months longer than expected while rent, mortgage payments, groceries, utilities, transportation costs, medical expenses, and other bills continue.

If your first advance no longer meets your financial needs, you may be able to request a second lawsuit cash advance. Approval is not automatic. Fast Funds must review the case again to determine whether additional funding is available.

Learn more about how lawsuit funding works:

https://fastfunds.us/how-litigation-funding-works/

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Does a Delayed Trial Cancel Your Existing Lawsuit Funding?

No. A postponed trial does not cancel your existing lawsuit funding agreement.

Lawsuit funding is connected to your pending legal claim and the potential recovery from that claim. A scheduled trial date is one part of the litigation process. Changing that date does not make an existing funding agreement disappear.

For example, suppose your attorney expects your personal injury case to go to trial in November. You receive a lawsuit cash advance several months earlier to help cover living expenses while your lawsuit is pending.

If the court later moves your trial from November to February, the change in the court schedule does not cancel the advance you already received.

Your signed funding agreement continues to control the terms of your advance.

Why Can Trials Get Delayed?

Trial dates can change for many reasons. Courts, attorneys, witnesses, experts, and other parties may need more time before a case is ready for trial.

Reasons for a trial delay may include:

  • Discovery has not been completed.
  • Depositions need to be taken or rescheduled.
  • Medical records or other evidence still need to be collected.
  • An expert witness needs more time.
  • One party files a motion that the court must decide before trial.
  • The court calendar becomes crowded.
  • The judge reschedules the case.
  • Settlement discussions continue.
  • A procedural issue requires additional time.

A postponed trial does not automatically mean that your case has become stronger or weaker. It can simply mean that the litigation process requires more time.

Your attorney is the right person to explain why your trial date changed and what the new schedule may mean for your case.

- WHAT CLIENTS ARE SAYING -

In June, my wife and I asked our attorney about giving us a loan against any settlement proceeds from our case. He told us that the state bar does not
permit lawyers to participate in the financing of clients. The offer of settlement was very low so the case needed to be filed in court. I called Fast Funds. Within 24 hours, I had entered into an agreement with them, selling a very small portion of the anticipated proceeds to them in exchange for immediate financing. Now my suit is in court and I don't have to worry about money until it's outcome. Thank god for Fast Funds
B.G.
As a result of the advances you have made to our client, we were able to refuse an extremely low settlement offer and take the case to court. We settled the day of the trial for a very generous sum. Had there been no advances by Fast Funds, our client would have had no choice but to accept the inadequate offer since he was in severe debt due to his inability to work. Thank you for your helpful assistance in providing our client with the ability to persevere.
C.F.
I was involved in an accident which took my left leg. I was forced to live homeless for eleven months. Thanks to the Fast Funds people advancing money. I now live in an apartment,I am walking on a prosthetic and otherwise getting my life back together, even though my attorney has not yet settled my lawsuit. I don't know what I would have done for money because the insurance company has offered nothing so far.
A.R.S.
I was involved in an auto accident which caused me to suffer a herniated disc. Because of this injury, I was forced to miss many months of work. I had no income and no place or person to turn to for money. My attorney told me he was unable to help with any financing and the insurance company was refusing to settle the case. I turned to a company called Fast funds. They immediately reviewed my file and took the financial pressure off by providing me with interim financing. I am now able to wait for as long as it takes for my lawyer to achieve a successful result in my case. Without the financial involvement of Fast Funds, I don't know what I would have done.
K.P.
I wanted to thank you for your sensitivity in helping me cope through a very difficult time in my life. Without your help, I would have been unable to pay my rent , forcing my wife and children to be put on the street. I have not been able to return to work and I was tempted to accept the insurance company's very low offer to settle, even though I knew it was not fair or reasonable. You have given me the ability to withstand the financial pressures. Thanks for your help. I will never forget it
C.S.
I have in the past referred clients to Fast Funds Inc., a non-recourse company. The experience of my clients
and my firm were totally positive. Fast Funds was responsive to the clients financial and emotional needs, provided the necessary emergency money and did not interfere in any manner with my handling of the cases. The clients, without my input, negotiated the advance directly with the company. In each case, they were completely satisfied with the final result of the case, including the amount of profit earned by Fast Funds. Non-recourse funding is clearly a valuable tool to the plaintiff's attorney.
M.J.L.
"I am writing to recommend the valuable assistance of the Fast Funds Inc., a company that provided interim funding to financially needy clients. They help to insure that a case will be brought to a successful resolution. A good case in point is when I was offered $75,000.00 for a seriously injured client. Had she not been able to take advantage of the advance financing offered by Fast Funds, I would have been forced to take the money. As it turned out, because my client now had the financial ability to withstand the pressures of time, I tried the case to a jury and received a verdict of $315,000.00.
M.S.D.
It is my belief that non-recourse companies, such as Fast Funds, the company to whom I refer my needy clients, perform an invaluable service to both the client and the attorney. Simply put, it is common knowledge that one of the tools negotiation utilized by insurance companies is time. Offering
considerably less money than the actual case value to a client in desperate need of funds while the case is pending, gives the insurance companies a tremendous advantage. This advantage is minimized and the playing field is leveled when the client has the ability to obtain funds for a minimal portion of the anticipated proceeds. Many times, with no prospects of income, an injured party will settle the case for whatever offer is made.
R.J.F.

Do You Have to Make Monthly Payments While You Wait?

No. A trial delay does not turn a Fast Funds lawsuit cash advance into a monthly payment obligation.

Fast Funds provides non-recourse cash advances rather than conventional consumer loans. Fast Funds states that its lawsuit advances do not require monthly payments, credit checks, or repayment when there is no favorable recovery.

Repayment comes from case proceeds after a successful recovery according to the funding agreement.

This distinction can matter when a lawsuit lasts longer than expected. If you are already dealing with lost income, medical bills, or household expenses, you do not have to add a monthly Fast Funds payment to those obligations while your case remains pending.

You can learn more about lawsuit advances here:

https://fastfunds.us/lawsuit-advances/

Does a Trial Delay Increase the Interest on Your Fast Funds Advance?

No. Fast Funds states that it does not charge interest on its lawsuit cash advances.

Fast Funds also states that it places no restrictions on how long it will wait for a case to conclude.

This means that a court postponing your trial does not create additional interest charges simply because the lawsuit takes longer.

Your signed agreement still controls your funding arrangement, so review it carefully if you have questions about the amount that will be paid from a successful recovery.

Callout:

A delayed trial changes your case timeline. It does not create monthly Fast Funds payments or interest charges.

What If the Trial Delay Creates Another Financial Shortage?

A delayed trial can become difficult when you planned your household expenses around an earlier case timeline.

You may have used your first lawsuit cash advance to cover expenses such as:

  • Rent or mortgage payments
  • Groceries
  • Utilities
  • Transportation
  • Insurance
  • Medical expenses
  • Overdue household bills

If your case remains pending several months longer than expected, those expenses do not stop.

You may be able to request another lawsuit cash advance when your first advance is no longer enough.

Fast Funds has an existing process for plaintiffs who want to request additional funding:

https://fastfunds.us/getting-a-second-cash-advance/

Can You Get a Second Lawsuit Cash Advance After a Trial Delay?

Possibly.

Receiving an earlier advance does not necessarily prevent you from receiving additional lawsuit funding. Fast Funds can review your case again to determine whether another advance may be available.

A second advance is not automatic.

The funding company must determine whether the current circumstances of your claim support more funding.

The fact that your trial has been postponed can explain why you need additional money, but the delay alone does not determine whether another advance will be approved.

What May Fast Funds Review Before Approving More Funding?

A lawsuit can change between your first funding request and a request for additional money.

A second funding review may consider information about your current claim and the expected recovery.

Depending on the case, relevant information may include:

  • The current status of the lawsuit
  • The expected value of the claim
  • The amount of funding already provided
  • Available insurance coverage
  • Medical treatment and records
  • Liens that may need to be paid
  • Attorney fees
  • Case expenses
  • Recent developments in the lawsuit
  • The amount of additional funding requested

Your attorney may also have more information about the case than was available when you received your first advance.

For example, depositions may have been completed, medical evidence may be more developed, insurance information may be clearer, or settlement negotiations may have progressed.

Those developments can affect a new funding review.

How Much Additional Lawsuit Funding Can You Receive?

There is no single amount that applies to every plaintiff.

Fast Funds reviews the individual case and anticipated recovery when considering an advance. The amount available depends on the circumstances of the claim.

If you already received lawsuit funding, the amount previously advanced is also relevant when determining whether more funding may be available.

The goal should not be to take the largest advance possible. You should consider how much money you need now and how the funding obligation will affect the proceeds you may eventually receive.

What Should You Review Before Requesting Another Advance?

Before requesting additional lawsuit funding, look at the larger financial picture of your case.

Consider:

  • How much lawsuit funding you have already received
  • How much additional money you currently need
  • The terms of your existing funding agreement
  • The current expected value of your claim
  • Attorney fees
  • Litigation expenses
  • Medical bills
  • Medical liens
  • Other valid liens or obligations
  • Other lawsuit funding connected to the case
  • The amount that may remain for you after a successful recovery

Your attorney can help you understand the legal and financial obligations connected to your case.

Could a Trial Delay Lead to a Settlement?

It can, but a settlement is never certain simply because a trial has been postponed.

Settlement discussions may continue while the parties wait for a new trial date. Attorneys may also continue reviewing evidence, taking depositions, preparing witnesses, filing motions, and negotiating during the delay.

More time can give both sides another opportunity to evaluate the case, but it can also mean that the lawsuit remains pending for a longer period.

You should not request or decline lawsuit funding because you assume that the case will settle during the delay.

Your attorney can explain the current status of settlement negotiations and advise you about legal strategy.

Fast Funds does not control whether you:

  • Accept a settlement offer
  • Reject a settlement offer
  • Continue negotiating
  • Proceed to trial
  • Change the legal strategy of your case

Those decisions remain between you and your attorney.

What Happens to Your Funding if the Case Settles During the Delay?

If your case reaches a favorable financial recovery, the Fast Funds obligation is handled according to the agreement you signed.

A settlement may have several obligations that must be addressed before the remaining proceeds are distributed to you.

Depending on your case, these may include:

  • Attorney fees
  • Litigation expenses
  • Medical bills
  • Medical liens
  • Other valid liens
  • Lawsuit funding obligations

This is why you should consider more than the amount of cash you can receive today when deciding whether to request additional funding.

Another advance can provide money for current expenses, but it also becomes part of the financial obligations connected to the eventual recovery under the terms of your agreement.

What Happens if Your Case Goes to Trial After the Delay?

If your trial eventually proceeds, your lawsuit funding agreement does not replace your attorney or give the funding company control over your lawsuit.

Your attorney remains responsible for matters such as:

  • Legal strategy
  • Evidence
  • Depositions
  • Witness preparation
  • Expert witnesses
  • Motions
  • Courtroom arguments
  • Settlement advice
  • Trial preparation

Fast Funds evaluates a claim for funding purposes. It does not take control of the litigation.

If your trial results in a favorable financial recovery, repayment is handled according to your signed funding agreement.

What Happens if You Lose the Case?

Fast Funds states that its lawsuit cash advances are non-recourse.

If you do not receive a favorable cash settlement or award, Fast Funds states that you do not repay the advance.

That is one of the main differences between lawsuit funding and a traditional loan.

A traditional loan creates a repayment obligation regardless of whether another event produces money for you. Non-recourse lawsuit funding is based on the recovery from the legal claim.

Learn more about the Fast Funds funding process here:

https://fastfunds.us/litigation-funding/

Questions to Ask After Your Trial Is Postponed

A trial delay is a good time to gather current information before making another financial decision.

Consider asking these questions:

  • Why was my trial postponed?
  • What is the new expected litigation timeline?
  • Does the delay change anything in my existing funding agreement?
  • What amount is currently connected to my lawsuit funding agreement?
  • Can I request a second lawsuit cash advance?
  • What information will Fast Funds need for another review?
  • How much funding has already been advanced on my case?
  • What attorney fees may come out of a recovery?
  • What medical bills or liens may come out of a recovery?
  • What other case expenses may need to be paid?
  • How could another advance affect the amount I eventually receive?
  • Can I review my funding agreement with my attorney before accepting additional funding?

Clear answers can help you decide whether requesting more funding fits your current financial needs.

A Trial Delay Changes the Timeline, Not Your Need for Financial Stability

When a trial is postponed, your lawsuit continues, but so can your everyday expenses.

Your existing Fast Funds cash advance does not become due simply because the court changes the trial date. Fast Funds does not require monthly payments and states that it does not charge interest or limit how long it will wait for the case to conclude.

If the delay creates another financial shortage, you may be able to request a second lawsuit cash advance. Fast Funds will need to review your case to determine whether additional funding is available.

Talk to Fast Funds About Lawsuit Funding After a Trial Delay

If your trial has been postponed and you need help covering expenses while your case remains pending, Fast Funds offers free consultations for represented plaintiffs who want to discuss lawsuit funding.

Fast Funds provides lawsuit advances to eligible plaintiffs in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, Washington, and other areas where funding is available.

You can also contact Fast Funds online:

https://fastfunds.us/contact-us/

Fast Funds, Inc. is located at 2727 Bruce Terrace, Hollywood, Florida 33020.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not provide legal advice. Consult your attorney about your specific lawsuit, funding agreement, trial schedule, and legal options.