Reputation vs track record
When facing a plaintiff attorney, it can be challenging to discern the difference between their reputation and their actual track record. While a reputation is built on stories and anecdotes that circulate among law firms, a track record is grounded in hard data. Understanding the distinction between the two can make all the difference in how a case is approached, potentially saving significant time and resources.
In this blog, we will explore the differences between a plaintiff attorney’s reputation and track record and how adjusters can combine both anecdotal and factual data to make well-informed decisions.
What’s Behind an Attorney’s Reputation?
Do you know how to differentiate between a plaintiff attorney’s reputation, and his track record?
A reputation is composed of the anecdotes and stories that flow between law firms.
Stories like:
“That guy is a beast in the court room.”
“He convinced a jury to award $100M in a no-fault case.”
“He is so good; his firm flies him all over the country to drop into trial cases and win massive verdicts.”
That’s an attorney’s reputation. Big scary stories that send a message to adjusters: Don’t mess with this guy, if you try to face him in court, you’ll lose.
What does a track record tell us?
When you look at hard data, rather than just anecdotes, for some big plaintiff attorneys, a very different story emerges.
Sometimes those “big verdicts” turn out to be 15 years old.
Sometimes those big awards were based on medical specials that were never in dispute.
Sometimes an attorney works very hard to build up a “big reputation” that isn’t backed up by the facts.
Adjusters Beware: don’t let a big name scare you into overpaying
So how is an adjuster supposed to react when they hear that an attorney that they are facing is bad news? Without any data, any rational person would move heaven and earth to avoid trial, even if it means overpaying on their case.
How do you know when to call the bluff?
How do you know when to stick to your guns?
The Winning Formula: Data + Reputation = Smart Decisions
When you combine anecdotal data with hard facts, humans can make the best possible decisions on how to close a case. And give them the confidence to recognize cases where if they do go to trial, they just might win.
When using data like what we provide in our Analyzer product (verdict, docket, and state bar data) case strategy can be tailored to the venue and attorney in question. And users can finally take into consideration not just reputation, but the cold hard facts of the attorney’s track record.
Find out more about our Analyzer product here.
Contact us for a demo !
