Third-party litigation funding (TPLF) arrangements have become an increasingly difficult problem for the risk management community. They often cede control of litigation to the funders, which can result in longer settlement times and "nuclear verdicts." The lack of basic disclosure requirements allows funders to operate in the shadows, making it difficult—if not impossible—to fully assess the dynamics of a case. These arrangements can also raise national security concerns as there are few, if any, constraints on foreign investment in US civil litigation.

• A detailed understanding of why TPLF arrangements are problematic from a risk manager's perspective.
• A better understanding of what Congress is trying to accomplish in this area.
• More information about what's happening at the state level, including recent legislative successes in North Carolina and Ohio and how they might serve as the basis for additional "wins" in other states.