Resolution Without Trial

• Author: Andrew H. Friedman
• Pages: 1753-1942

RESOLUTION

WITHOUT TRIAL

CHAPTER 10

RESOLUTION WITHOUT TRIAL

(Τηισ παγε ιντεντιοναλλψ λεφτ βλανκ.)

RESOLUTION

WITHOUT TRIAL

10-3 Resolution Without Trial §10:03

RESOLUTION

WITHOUT TRIAL

I. INTRODUCTION

A. Most Cases Resolved Without Trial [§10:01]

   

στατυτεσ µακε εαρλψ ρεσολυτιον οφ τηεσε χασεσ παρτιχυλαρλψ αππεαλινγ το βοτη σιδεσ. ∆υε πριµαριλψ το τηεσε φαχτορσ,

  

   





συβσταντιαλ αµουντσ οφ µονεψ) ον τηε ταβλε. Σεε Ρυννινγ Ωιτη Τηε Βυλλσ:

Ηοω Το Ωιν Τοπ−∆ολλαρ Σεττλεµεντσ





B. Scope of Chapter [§10:02]



    

    



    

 



Α∆Ρ ανδ βεστ τιµινγ φορ οπτιµαλ σεττλεµεντ οφ τηε εµπλοψµεντ δισχριµινατιον χασε.

PRACTICE POINT:

Beware of your overconf‌idence

Regardless of whether you attempt to resolve the matter in direct attorney-to-attorney discussions or in

mediation, you should be cognizant of the fact that multiple studies have shown that defense and plaintiff

counsel have a tendency to be overly conf‌ident about their chances of prevailing even when measured by

their own assessment of success. Indeed, in one study, when attorneys at case commencement answered

the question, “What would be a win situation in terms of your minimum goal for the outcome of this case?”,

they failed to meet or exceed that minimal goal nearly 50% of the time. See Jane Goodman-Delahunty et

al., Insightful or Wishful: Lawyers’ Ability to Predict Case Outcomes, 16 Psych., Pub. Pol’y & L. 133, 133–57

(2010), accessible at https://turtletalk.f‌iles.wordpress.com/2010/06/goodman-delahunty-insightful-or-

wishful-16-psych-pub-pol.pdf; Elizabeth F. Loftus & Willem A. Wagenaar, Lawyers’ Predictions of Success,

28 Jurimetrics J. 437 (1988). See also Alan R. Berkowitz, Mediation Tips and Arbitration Bits: Are Lawyers

Good at Predicting Case Outcome and Settlement Value, Cal. Lab. & Emp. L. R., Vol. 35, No. 2 (2021). One

method by which attorneys can regulate this overconf‌idence is by peer review – that is, run the facts of the

case (warts and all) by colleagues within your law f‌irm (someone designated to play “Devil’s Advocate”

who argues against the client’s position both factually and legally) and colleagues outside of your law f‌irm

to get their perspective. These attorneys are likely to provide you with valuable information about your case

– information that helps you formulate a more realistic view of your chances of success which should then

factor into your settlement negotiations.

II. NEGOTIATION

A. General Considerations [§10:03]





   