Treat this as a rule of thumb, not a prediction. It's a simple model to help you structure the decision, not a crystal ball — your case resolves once, on a win or a loss, not on the blended figure above. And remember that a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush: a settlement is certain, final, and paid now — and that certainty is worth real money this formula can't price. A lawyer who knows the facts, the judge, and the other side can weigh what a number can't.