Ep 19. Lawyers, Lies, and a Housewife

In season 15, episode 19 of American Greed, titled "Lawyers, Lies, and a Housewife," viewers are taken on a wild ride of deceit, manipulation, and greed. The episode centers around a group of lawyers in south Florida who were involved in a complex and illegal scheme related to the sale of structured settlements.

Structured settlements are financial arrangements that provide regular payments to an individual over a set period of time, often as the result of a lawsuit settlement or insurance payout. These payments can be a lifeline for people who have suffered a catastrophic injury or illness. But for some, they are an opportunity for predatory individuals to take advantage of a vulnerable population.

The lawyers featured in this episode saw an opportunity to make a quick buck by purchasing structured settlements from individuals for less than their actual worth and then reselling them to investors at a higher rate. To pull off this scheme, they needed to convince the individuals that the settlement they were selling was worth less than it actually was.

They found the perfect frontwoman in a housewife named Michelle Martens. Martens was a former cocktail waitress with no legal experience, but she was charismatic and had a knack for sales. The lawyers hired her to meet with the individuals, offer them a lowball settlement offer, and convince them to sign over their settlement rights.

Martens proved to be a natural salesperson, and she quickly became the face of the operation. She would meet with the individuals and their families, make them feel comfortable, and then deliver the low offer with a smile. She would downplay the value of their settlement and convince them that it wasn't worth much, even though the lawyers knew they could resell it for a hefty profit.

The scheme was successful for a while, but eventually, the lawyers' greed got the better of them. They started to take on more clients than they could handle and began to cut corners. They falsified documents, inflated settlement amounts, and even double-sold structured settlements, leaving both the seller and investor out of luck.

As the scheme began to unravel, Martens tried to distance herself from the operation, but it was too little, too late. The lawyers were eventually caught, and they were charged with multiple counts of fraud, conspiracy, and money laundering. Martens was also charged, but she was able to strike a plea deal and avoid jail time.

The episode offers a deep dive into the legal system and how lawyers can exploit it for personal gain. It also sheds light on the predatory nature of the structured settlement industry and the devastating effects it can have on vulnerable individuals.

Overall, "Lawyers, Lies, and a Housewife" is a gripping episode that showcases the far-reaching consequences of greed and dishonesty. It serves as a cautionary tale for anyone interested in getting involved in the structured settlement industry or any industry that preys on the vulnerable.