The lawyer had a number. The file didn't.

Critical information shouldn't live outside the claim file.

That gap is where we work.

130 of our 192 open litigated files had no monetary demand anywhere in the record. In 105 of them, a complaint had already been filed.

We know because we read every open litigated file in our book this summer.

The adjusters were working the files. But the process was still waiting for plaintiff's counsel to name a number. In roughly two out of three files, that number had never arrived.

Waiting is expensive.

For claims expected to pay $50,000 or less, projected defense costs are about twice the expected payout. A deposition costs about the same whether the claim is worth $50,000 or $500,000. Smaller claims can quietly accumulate legal bills far out of proportion to their value.

Plaintiff's counsel had a number in mind. The file didn't.

We focus on closing that gap by valuing the claim early, before the other side sets the pace.

Pull your litigated inventory and count how many files are still waiting for a demand. Then look at what you're spending to wait.

If you want to compare approaches for identifying and valuing those files earlier, send me a message.