Finance category
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Settlement vs Judgment Calculator
Most landlord disputes settle. This calculator compares settlement against litigating to judgment.
Better outcome
Settle
Settlement net
$5,500
Judgment expected net
-$525
How the math works
Settle net = offer. Judgment net = (claim × collection rate) − legal.
For most landlord disputes, settle. Judgment collection is hard and slow. Litigate only when defendant has clear assets or it's a precedent-setting case. Settlement is usually right answer.
How to Use
- Enter claim amount.
- Enter settlement offered.
- Enter legal cost to judgment.
- Enter judgment collection rate.
- Enter months to judgment.
- Read better outcome.
Frequently Asked Questions
Typical settlement?
60-75% of claim. Fast (30-60 days). No appeal. Known outcome. Most landlord small-claims settle in mediation at 60-70 cents on the dollar.
Collectibility?
Judgment worth little if defendant is judgment-proof. 30-40% collection rate typical on unsecured judgments. Assets or wage garnishment can lift to 60-80%.
Opportunity cost?
Litigation takes 6-18 months. Time spent is real — compare against opportunity cost of running the business vs chasing judgment.
How often should I rerun this?
Rerun this calculator whenever inputs change materially — new rent roll data, rate moves, loan balance updates, or quarterly operating data. For active deals, monthly refresh is typical. For stabilized assets under monitoring, quarterly is fine. Treat the output as a decision tool, not a one-time answer — market conditions evolve and so should your analysis.
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