That is high for damages but I think some times they shoot for the moon hoping to land somewhere in the middle . Like you say that means nothing as far as the validity of the suit but maybe the lawyer said " this is the maximum possible so that is what we will claim " it also would affect any settlement . If they ask for 5 they might be offered 1.5 , if they ask for 10 they might be offered 3 . Just a thought .