Race Radio said:
			
		
	
	
		
		
			He hasn't. His liability is $12,000,000
SCA has not lost $7,000,000. The game is not over. 
In the end SCA will walk with $12,000,000, plus the original $600,000 premium. Not a bad investment
		
		
	 
It's an interestimg topic. But you and I are talking different languages.
You're talking court room victories. I'm talking purely financial profit/loss.
Investment banking is this very scenario; the movement of money over time to maximise profit.
Giving money away is not maximiaing profit.
As a general rule money changes value over time and where and what currency you place it.
And the game never finishes. It just keeps going. There is no end point. A win in the court room may win the battle but not the war.
Even in your given scenario that SCA claim $12m they've not actually won. Yes they may win the hearing but not the financial gain.
And dependent on how Armstrong invented the $7m he wins even if he has to give back 12m. He's had the money, still has the money and has had it for 8 years.
The value of 7m in 2006 compared to 2014 is vastly different. CPI/RPI at what? 3% year on year? That's SCA's loss. Armstrong's gain.
Profit? SCA have earn't 0, yes zero on their 7m in 8 years plus the losses on CPI.
Armstrong has profited and had his money earning at CPI increased rates year on year. His win.
The 12m if you read the submission is to cover costs for now and from the original settlement. Armstrong has all his costs paid in 2006. His win.
In extrapolated form;
Insurance Company A gives Person B $7m in 2006.
As of 2006;
IC is now down $7m (loss).
Person B is now up $7m (profit).
Then you have 8 years till present day;
Year 1
Year 2
Year 3
etc.
In that time IC is still down it's original $7m in addition to the "potential" and future interest and profit gains. Year on year at minimum that could be 3%. With $7m depending on the risk of your strategy you could make 10-15%.
So in investment banking and actual real life terms you're now down the $7m plus profit from the $7m, year on year.
Therefore:
IC 
y = 7m capital
x = 3% (0.03 minimum potential earnings).
z = profit, (result of y * x)
Year 1: 
z = y * x
Year 2: 
z = z + y * x
etc.
Recovering 12m of course is good for SCA, they can then take that money and invent it and earn profit.
Armstrong gives back his original 7m plus 5m more but in 8 years has made profit and surfed the CPI and curreny waves.
Or to put it another way; for SCA to win, Armstrong doesn't lose.
and if there's any variation on the 12m will be SCA loss and Armstrong's win, financially speaking.