A lot of the value of the settlement can't be transferred to the new owner, so it's unlikely that the deals would happen if someone wasn't getting screwed. In

A lot of the value of the settlement can't be transferred to the new owner, so it's unlikely that the deals would happen if someone wasn't getting screwed. In particular, structured settlements are usually protected from bankruptcy, and usually are enough to keep the beneficiary off public assistance (so it transfers the cost from the taxpayer to whoever caused the harm). Allowing the payments to be sold off into a non-protected lump-sum at the discounted present value defeats the entire purpose of the lawsuit that generated the settlement.