Susan J. Stauss

Member

Susan litigates for and counsels her clients in the insurance industry concerning structured settlements and life insurance. She represents various major insurance and annuity companies in cases involving complex issues presented by structured settlements, as well as exposure created by the secondary market for life insurance.

Susan has represented major insurance and annuity companies in the opposition of the transfer of structured settlement payment rights throughout the United States. She has handled cases involving complex issues presented by structured settlements, including the attempted transfer of structured settlement payment rights, disputed claims of entitlement to structured settlement payments, tax issues, beneficiary and estate issues, commutations, transfers of minor’s structured settlement payments, workers’ compensation issues, bankruptcy issues, U.C.C. issues, child support issues, and garnishment orders.

Susan is part of the team of lawyers serving as counsel to the National Structured Settlements Trade Association (NSSTA), is a member of the NSSTA Legal Committee, and speaks on structured settlement issues nationwide.

Susan has represented life insurers in connection with the often unrecognized exposure created by the secondary market for life insurance. She has experience litigating and counseling clients on issues such as exposure stemming from viaticals, life settlements, non-recourse premium financing and stranger-originated life insurance (STOLI) transactions, and Insurance coverage disputes involving fraud, misrepresentations, overseas fraudulent deaths, unfair trade practices, civil RICO, bad faith, and regulatory and sales practice protocols.

Susan also has experience handling various litigation matters, including complex medical malpractice, personal injury, premises liability, product liability, mass tort, and general negligence actions.

Susan earned her undergraduate degree, cum laude, from Drexel University. Susan earned her law degree from Temple University Beasley School of Law.

Experience

News

Susan Stauss Receives the National Structured Settlements Trade Association Leadership Award

April 22, 2024

Susan Stauss, member of the firm’s Life Insurance and Annuities practice, has been selected to receive the National Structured Settlements Trade Association (NSSTA) Leadership Award.

Companies Brought S.C. Victims to Courts Where They Didn’t Live to get Upper Hand

September 19, 2022

Susan Stauss was quoted in an article published by The Sun News, which discusses structured settlements in South Carolina and if factoring companies operating in the state are following the rules.

SC Protection Act is Outdated. How Did Other States Reform?

September 19, 2022

Susan Stauss was mentioned in an article published by The Sun News.

Cozen O'Connor Names 11 New Shareholders

September 12, 2022

Cozen O’Connor is pleased to announce the promotion of 11 members to shareholders.

Cozen O'Connor’s Life Insurance & Annuities Group Named One of the Top Lateral Hires of 2018

March 23, 2019

The Cozen O'Connor Life Insurance and Annuities Group was named by The Legal Intelligencer one of the Top Lateral Hires of 2018 after joining the firm in April 2018.

Publications

Longshore Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act Payments Not Assignable [Alert]

March 06, 2023

The Arkansas Court of Appeals held that the LHWCA bars the transfer of LHWCA structured settlement annuity payment rights, a rebuke to factoring companies.

Events & Seminars

Past Events

Model State Structured Settlement Protection Act

April 12, 2024 - Nashville, TN

Structures 101 &102

February 25, 2020 - Las Vegas, NV

Industry Sectors

Education

  • Temple University School of Law, J.D., 1997
  • Drexel University, B.S., cum laude, 1994
  • New Jersey
  • Pennsylvania
  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • U.S. District Court -- Eastern District of Pennsylvania
  • U.S. District Court -- New Jersey

American Bar Association

Defense Research Institute

New Jersey Bar Association

Pennsylvania Bar Association