Opinion ID: 2467453
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: prejudgment interest on medical expenses

Text: Morgan argues that she is entitled to recover prejudgment interest on all the medical expenses she incurred prior to the trial court's judgment. Relying on Cavnar v. Quality Control Parking Inc., 696 S.W.2d 549 (Tex.1985), the court of appeals held that Morgan was entitled to recover prejudgment interest on the $6,845.00 in medical expenses which Standard had not paid prior to the trial court's judgment. Standard argues that Morgan cannot recover any prejudgment interest on her medical expenses because the Workers' Compensation Act does not permit recovery of such interest. We agree. Although Article 8306a of the Act allows recovery of prejudgment interest on past due weekly installments, this Court has already recognized that a worker cannot recover pre-judgment interest on past medical expenses because such expenses are not `past due weekly installments' within the meaning of article 8306a. Martinez v. Highlands Ins. Co., 644 S.W.2d 442, 442 (Tex.1982). Unlike the Wrongful Death Act discussed in Cavnar, the Legislature has enacted an exact compensation scheme within the Workers' Compensation Act. The court of appeals' reliance on Cavnar under the circumstances of this case is misplaced. Thus, Morgan is not entitled to recover prejudgment interest on any of the medical expenses she incurred. Id. Accordingly, we reverse the court of appeals' judgment in part and render judgment that Morgan is not entitled to any prejudgment interest on her medical expenses. We affirm all other aspects of the judgment of the court of appeals. ROBERTSON, J., concurs and dissents in an opinion joined by RAY and MAUZY, JJ.