This is a very common question that clients ask and it’s a tough question. To me, by definition, the answer is: it’s what a jury in Florida will award you! That is the true value of the case. Of course, more often than not, the case resolves for a sum that everyone agrees to and then that becomes the value of the case. Now, if we had a crystal ball and the jury is awarding the client $50,000 but the case resolves for $100,000, then that’s obviously a great settlement. Conversely, if we had a crystal ball and the jury is awarding the client $200,000 but the case resolves for $100,000, then that is a bad settlement. Of course, we don’t have a crystal ball and part of the lawyer’s job is to advise the client on what he or she believes a likely jury result is, so that the client can make an educated decision.
