Prove it (which you cannot). Virtually all such suits, unless they are class actions, result either in dismissal or in settlements ten or more times less. It's the form, and would you be a sucker and actually claim "only your physical damages less betterment etc." knowing this will leave you with a small fraction of what you asked? $8 million claim is actually saying "City, this is the worst case possible." Unless the city has absolute morons for counsel, the worst case possible is about as likely to happen as you are to get struck by lightning.