Odds favor settlement ...95% of US Civil cases end in settlement after both parties have analyzed the strengths and weaknesses of their cases, Many US Judges get hands on in the settlement process ... other use court-based or outside mediators, most play a good cop/bad cop/high ball/low ball routine to get the parties to see and settle for a middle ground number ...
The only potential problem is when you have a deep-pocketed defendant who is convinced that they can win at trial ....or on appeal ...
Of course in this case, if I am the Defendants I would pony up the max. the Judge thinks is a reasonable settlement and then walk away.....you never want to risk big adverse verdict ...