There are three factors in determining to settle:
1) Legal expenses even though you have a good case if the amount you will recieve is less then your expenses than you should settle
2) The chance of you winning your case
3) The odds that you will collect the award. OJ is a prime example although the Goldman Estate was awarded over $30 million, I doubt they even collected $500,000.00.
Judges have a number of cases that have to be settled and if each case went to trial there would be a backlog so they try to get the parties to settle. Insurance companies like to settle in the $50-100 thousand range if they can. Media companies have insurance policies but their premiums are going to go up.
The way a civil suit works is the jury decides how much each party is at fault and then they prorate the damages. In some states if the defendant is found to be responsible for less then 50% he pays nothing
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