diff --git a/docling/backend/html_backend.py b/docling/backend/html_backend.py
index 234e5da..5b7f5d8 100644
--- a/docling/backend/html_backend.py
+++ b/docling/backend/html_backend.py
@@ -5,9 +5,11 @@ from typing import Optional, Union, cast
 
 from bs4 import BeautifulSoup, NavigableString, PageElement, Tag
 from docling_core.types.doc import (
+    DocItem,
     DocItemLabel,
     DoclingDocument,
     DocumentOrigin,
+    GroupItem,
     GroupLabel,
     TableCell,
     TableData,
@@ -32,10 +34,9 @@ class HTMLDocumentBackend(DeclarativeDocumentBackend):
         # Initialise the parents for the hierarchy
         self.max_levels = 10
         self.level = 0
-        self.parents = {}  # type: ignore
+        self.parents: dict[int, Optional[Union[DocItem, GroupItem]]] = {}
         for i in range(0, self.max_levels):
             self.parents[i] = None
-        self.labels = {}  # type: ignore
 
         try:
             if isinstance(self.path_or_stream, BytesIO):
@@ -111,11 +112,6 @@ class HTMLDocumentBackend(DeclarativeDocumentBackend):
         return
 
     def analyze_tag(self, tag: Tag, doc: DoclingDocument) -> None:
-        if tag.name in self.labels:
-            self.labels[tag.name] += 1
-        else:
-            self.labels[tag.name] = 1
-
         if tag.name in ["h1", "h2", "h3", "h4", "h5", "h6"]:
             self.handle_header(tag, doc)
         elif tag.name in ["p"]:
@@ -238,8 +234,12 @@ class HTMLDocumentBackend(DeclarativeDocumentBackend):
         """Handles listitem tags (li)."""
         nested_list = element.find(["ul", "ol"])
 
-        parent_list_label = self.parents[self.level].label
-        index_in_list = len(self.parents[self.level].children) + 1
+        parent = self.parents[self.level]
+        if parent is None:
+            _log.warning(f"list-item has no parent in DoclingDocument: {element}")
+            return
+        parent_label: str = parent.label
+        index_in_list = len(parent.children) + 1
 
         if nested_list:
             # Text in list item can be hidden within hierarchy, hence
@@ -251,7 +251,7 @@ class HTMLDocumentBackend(DeclarativeDocumentBackend):
 
             marker = ""
             enumerated = False
-            if parent_list_label == GroupLabel.ORDERED_LIST:
+            if parent_label == GroupLabel.ORDERED_LIST:
                 marker = str(index_in_list)
                 enumerated = True
 
@@ -261,7 +261,7 @@ class HTMLDocumentBackend(DeclarativeDocumentBackend):
                     text=text,
                     enumerated=enumerated,
                     marker=marker,
-                    parent=self.parents[self.level],
+                    parent=parent,
                 )
                 self.level += 1
 
@@ -275,14 +275,14 @@ class HTMLDocumentBackend(DeclarativeDocumentBackend):
 
             marker = ""
             enumerated = False
-            if parent_list_label == GroupLabel.ORDERED_LIST:
+            if parent_label == GroupLabel.ORDERED_LIST:
                 marker = f"{str(index_in_list)}."
                 enumerated = True
             doc.add_list_item(
                 text=text,
                 enumerated=enumerated,
                 marker=marker,
-                parent=self.parents[self.level],
+                parent=parent,
             )
         else:
             _log.warning(f"list-item has no text: {element}")
diff --git a/tests/test_backend_html.py b/tests/test_backend_html.py
index a4deb21..02fb0c3 100644
--- a/tests/test_backend_html.py
+++ b/tests/test_backend_html.py
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-import json
 import os
 from pathlib import Path
 
@@ -12,6 +11,8 @@ from docling.datamodel.document import (
 )
 from docling.document_converter import DocumentConverter
 
+from .verify_utils import verify_document
+
 GENERATE = False
 
 
@@ -66,7 +67,7 @@ def verify_export(pred_text: str, gtfile: str):
         return True
 
     else:
-        with open(gtfile, "r") as fr:
+        with open(gtfile) as fr:
             true_text = fr.read()
 
         assert pred_text == true_text, f"pred_text!=true_text for {gtfile}"
@@ -99,5 +100,4 @@ def test_e2e_html_conversions():
             pred_itxt, str(gt_path) + ".itxt"
         ), "export to indented-text"
 
-        pred_json: str = json.dumps(doc.export_to_dict(), indent=2)
-        assert verify_export(pred_json, str(gt_path) + ".json"), "export to json"
+        assert verify_document(doc, str(gt_path) + ".json", GENERATE)
diff --git a/tests/test_backend_jats.py b/tests/test_backend_jats.py
index a15ba86..377cf3b 100644
--- a/tests/test_backend_jats.py
+++ b/tests/test_backend_jats.py
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-import json
 import os
 from io import BytesIO
 from pathlib import Path
@@ -9,6 +8,8 @@ from docling.datamodel.base_models import DocumentStream, InputFormat
 from docling.datamodel.document import ConversionResult
 from docling.document_converter import DocumentConverter
 
+from .verify_utils import verify_document
+
 GENERATE = False
 
 
@@ -61,8 +62,7 @@ def test_e2e_pubmed_conversions(use_stream=False):
             pred_itxt, str(gt_path) + ".itxt"
         ), "export to indented-text"
 
-        pred_json: str = json.dumps(doc.export_to_dict(), indent=2)
-        assert verify_export(pred_json, str(gt_path) + ".json"), "export to json"
+        assert verify_document(doc, str(gt_path) + ".json", GENERATE), "export to json"
 
 
 def test_e2e_pubmed_conversions_stream():
diff --git a/tests/test_backend_msexcel.py b/tests/test_backend_msexcel.py
index d07bb69..5324185 100644
--- a/tests/test_backend_msexcel.py
+++ b/tests/test_backend_msexcel.py
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-import json
 import os
 from pathlib import Path
 
@@ -6,7 +5,7 @@ from docling.datamodel.base_models import InputFormat
 from docling.datamodel.document import ConversionResult, DoclingDocument
 from docling.document_converter import DocumentConverter
 
-from .verify_utils import verify_docitems
+from .verify_utils import verify_document
 
 GENERATE = False
 
@@ -44,20 +43,6 @@ def verify_export(pred_text: str, gtfile: str):
         return pred_text == true_text
 
 
-def verify_document(pred_doc: DoclingDocument, gtfile: str):
-
-    if not os.path.exists(gtfile) or GENERATE:
-        with open(gtfile, "w") as fw:
-            json.dump(pred_doc.export_to_dict(), fw, indent=2)
-
-        return True
-    else:
-        with open(gtfile, "r") as fr:
-            true_doc = DoclingDocument.model_validate_json(fr.read())
-
-        return verify_docitems(pred_doc, true_doc, fuzzy=False)
-
-
 def test_e2e_xlsx_conversions():
 
     xlsx_paths = get_xlsx_paths()
@@ -84,4 +69,6 @@ def test_e2e_xlsx_conversions():
             pred_itxt, str(gt_path) + ".itxt"
         ), "export to indented-text"
 
-        assert verify_document(doc, str(gt_path) + ".json"), "document document"
+        assert verify_document(
+            doc, str(gt_path) + ".json", GENERATE
+        ), "document document"
diff --git a/tests/test_backend_msword.py b/tests/test_backend_msword.py
index 4b092e0..9adf54f 100644
--- a/tests/test_backend_msword.py
+++ b/tests/test_backend_msword.py
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-import json
 import os
 from pathlib import Path
 
@@ -12,7 +11,7 @@ from docling.datamodel.document import (
 )
 from docling.document_converter import DocumentConverter
 
-from .verify_utils import verify_docitems
+from .verify_utils import verify_document
 
 GENERATE = False
 
@@ -74,20 +73,6 @@ def verify_export(pred_text: str, gtfile: str):
         return pred_text == true_text
 
 
-def verify_document(pred_doc: DoclingDocument, gtfile: str):
-
-    if not os.path.exists(gtfile) or GENERATE:
-        with open(gtfile, "w") as fw:
-            json.dump(pred_doc.export_to_dict(), fw, indent=2)
-
-        return True
-    else:
-        with open(gtfile, "r") as fr:
-            true_doc = DoclingDocument.model_validate_json(fr.read())
-
-        return verify_docitems(pred_doc, true_doc, fuzzy=False)
-
-
 def test_e2e_docx_conversions():
 
     docx_paths = get_docx_paths()
@@ -114,7 +99,9 @@ def test_e2e_docx_conversions():
             pred_itxt, str(gt_path) + ".itxt"
         ), "export to indented-text"
 
-        assert verify_document(doc, str(gt_path) + ".json"), "document document"
+        assert verify_document(
+            doc, str(gt_path) + ".json", GENERATE
+        ), "document document"
 
         if docx_path.name == "word_tables.docx":
             pred_html: str = doc.export_to_html()
diff --git a/tests/test_backend_patent_uspto.py b/tests/test_backend_patent_uspto.py
index 0e95a4d..002aa71 100644
--- a/tests/test_backend_patent_uspto.py
+++ b/tests/test_backend_patent_uspto.py
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 """Test methods in module docling.backend.patent_uspto_backend.py."""
 
-import json
 import logging
 import os
 from pathlib import Path
@@ -14,6 +13,8 @@ from docling.backend.xml.uspto_backend import PatentUsptoDocumentBackend, XmlTab
 from docling.datamodel.base_models import InputFormat
 from docling.datamodel.document import InputDocument
 
+from .verify_utils import verify_document
+
 GENERATE: bool = False
 DATA_PATH: Path = Path("./tests/data/uspto/")
 GT_PATH: Path = Path("./tests/data/groundtruth/docling_v2/")
@@ -110,12 +111,11 @@ def test_patent_groundtruth(patents, groundtruth):
             assert (
                 pred_md == gt_names[md_name]
             ), f"Markdown file mismatch against groundtruth {md_name}"
-        json_name = path.stem + ".json"
-        if json_name in gt_names:
-            pred_json = json.dumps(doc.export_to_dict(), indent=2)
-            assert (
-                pred_json == gt_names[json_name]
-            ), f"JSON file mismatch against groundtruth {json_name}"
+        json_path = path.with_suffix(".json")
+        if json_path.stem in gt_names:
+            assert verify_document(
+                doc, str(json_path), GENERATE
+            ), f"JSON file mismatch against groundtruth {json_path}"
         itxt_name = path.stem + ".itxt"
         if itxt_name in gt_names:
             pred_itxt = doc._export_to_indented_text()
diff --git a/tests/test_backend_pptx.py b/tests/test_backend_pptx.py
index 7540208..c0e71df 100644
--- a/tests/test_backend_pptx.py
+++ b/tests/test_backend_pptx.py
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-import json
 import os
 from pathlib import Path
 
@@ -6,7 +5,7 @@ from docling.datamodel.base_models import InputFormat
 from docling.datamodel.document import ConversionResult, DoclingDocument
 from docling.document_converter import DocumentConverter
 
-from .verify_utils import verify_docitems
+from .verify_utils import verify_document
 
 GENERATE = False
 
@@ -44,20 +43,6 @@ def verify_export(pred_text: str, gtfile: str):
         return pred_text == true_text
 
 
-def verify_document(pred_doc: DoclingDocument, gtfile: str):
-
-    if not os.path.exists(gtfile) or GENERATE:
-        with open(gtfile, "w") as fw:
-            json.dump(pred_doc.export_to_dict(), fw, indent=2)
-
-        return True
-    else:
-        with open(gtfile, "r") as fr:
-            true_doc = DoclingDocument.model_validate_json(fr.read())
-
-        return verify_docitems(pred_doc, true_doc, fuzzy=False)
-
-
 def test_e2e_pptx_conversions():
 
     pptx_paths = get_pptx_paths()
@@ -84,4 +69,6 @@ def test_e2e_pptx_conversions():
             pred_itxt, str(gt_path) + ".itxt"
         ), "export to indented-text"
 
-        assert verify_document(doc, str(gt_path) + ".json"), "document document"
+        assert verify_document(
+            doc, str(gt_path) + ".json", GENERATE
+        ), "document document"
diff --git a/tests/verify_utils.py b/tests/verify_utils.py
index 0493dac..d94ccfb 100644
--- a/tests/verify_utils.py
+++ b/tests/verify_utils.py
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import json
+import os
 import warnings
 from pathlib import Path
 from typing import List, Optional
@@ -457,3 +458,17 @@ def verify_conversion_result_v2(
         assert verify_dt(
             doc_pred_dt, doc_true_dt, fuzzy=fuzzy
         ), f"Mismatch in DocTags prediction for {input_path}"
+
+
+def verify_document(pred_doc: DoclingDocument, gtfile: str, generate: bool = False):
+
+    if not os.path.exists(gtfile) or generate:
+        with open(gtfile, "w") as fw:
+            json.dump(pred_doc.export_to_dict(), fw, indent=2)
+
+        return True
+    else:
+        with open(gtfile) as fr:
+            true_doc = DoclingDocument.model_validate_json(fr.read())
+
+        return verify_docitems(pred_doc, true_doc, fuzzy=False)