Probable Likelihood of Loss

Probable likelihood of Loss implies that the future event or events are more likely than not to occur, with the exceptions of pending or threatened litigation and unasserted claims. For pending or threatened litigation and unasserted claims, the future confirming event or events are likely to occur. If a negative outcome is probable, the federal entity must record a liability on its books for the estimated amount of loss. The estimated liability may be a specific amount or a range of amounts. If some amount within the range is a better estimate than any other amount within the range, then the federal entity should recognize that amount as a liability and should disclose the range of possible loss as well as the nature of the contingency in its financial statement notes. If no amount within the range is a better estimate than any other amount, then the federal entity should recognize the minimum amount in the range as a liability and should disclose the range and a description of the nature of the contingency in its financial statement notes. See Federal Accounting Standards Advisory Board Statement of Federal Financial Accounting Standards Nos. 5 and 12.