We researched 17 cases taken from jury verdicts across the State of Florida (Fig. 1) to determine a possible average case value of any case where the plaintiff suffered tinnitus, or a ringing of the ear or ears. From this research, we calculated a sample average case value of $113,463.35. However, this value was largely influenced by outlier cases, and we saw a range of case values between $0 and $1.4 million dollars.
After studying the trend of data of our sample, we concluded that this sample included three values that deviated from the normal trend of data values: $100,000, $222,309, and $1.4 million dollars. These numbers were the values that we referred to as outliers above. Eliminating these large values, along with defense verdicts, which have a $0 value, we found an average case value of $25,821, which shows a more representative sample average case value of the tinnitus cases we researched.
Figure 1 shows a graph in which we have broken down the geographic regions in the sample which we closer analyzed. The Orlando region was made of cases in Orange County and Seminole County, and the Rest-of-State region was made of cases excluding this Orlando region. The cases were mostly evenly distributed around the State, with some concentration in the counties in southern Florida.
The three cases we saw in the Orlando countries resulted in a one defense verdict, one plaintiff’s verdict, and one comparative negligence verdict, all culminating in an average case value of $18,985.65. After removing the defense verdict, the average case value rose to $28,478.50. Of the 14 cases that encompassed the Rest-of-State region showed an average case value of $133,708.57 including defense verdicts and outliers and an average case value of $24,935.17 excluding these measures. The Rest-of-State region difference between the average case value including defense verdicts and outliers and excluding them is a great example of why it is always important to calculate out the outlying values.
The average case value for a certain type of injury reveals little about the value of any case. For more complete information about how to place a value on any case, please visit our “What is my case worth?” blogs.
To find out more about the outliers in this sample, please click here.
If you’re a potential client or an attorney seeking a second opinion and would like to discuss the value of your case, please feel free to call me anytime at (850)224-3310.
