Daniels v. Pecan Valley Ranch, Inc.

OPINION

BIERY, Justice.

This appeal presents a question not yet addressed by the state courts of Texas: whether a personal injury structured settlement annuity is subject to the claims of the injured party’s judgment creditors. While there may be sound public policy arguments for the legislature to require benefits payable from a structured settlement to be at least partially exempt from garnishment, neither the Texas Legislature nor the United States Congress has chosen to do so. We hold we have no authority to create a common-law exemption.

A chronology of events proves helpful: November 11,…