When Jewis “J.J.” McCoy got a settlement after he took the diabetes drug Avandia, the Kansas City, Mo., man hoped to achieve some financial stability.

He wanted to get a decent car after he had a vehicle repossessed in 2008. And he wanted to get caught up on bills. And he hoped that he wouldn’t have to make the typical choice he has to make between ensuring his car is in decent shape or paying for heat in the winter or air conditioning in the summer.