Opinion ID: 1102111
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: did the trial court err in refusing to amend the final judgment to include statutory interest and attorney's fees?

Text: ¶ 18. In a letter dated January 6, 2000, Newton County Engineer Kemp recommended that the leveling work, which cost $21,697.24, was not in dispute and that the County pay for that work. However, the County refused to make any payment. Southland contends that because the leveling work was not in dispute, the circuit court should have amended the final judgment to include interest in the amount of 1½ percent a month from February 5, 2000, 45 days after the invoice was submitted, until the time payment was made on the Final Judgment, December 17, 2000, in accordance with Miss.Code Ann. § 31-7-305 (2000). ¶ 19. The County notes that the interest provisions in the statute only apply to those amounts which are not in dispute. Miss.Code Ann. § 31-7-305(3). The County contends that there was a bona fide dispute as to the leveling work because the contract was an entire contract and not severable. The jury was instructed that if Southland had substantially performed the terms of the contract, the jury was justified in awarding, on the basis of quantum merit, the reasonable value of the materials and services. The trial court found that Stanton & Associates, Inc., v. Bryant Construction Co., 464 So.2d 499, 502 (Miss.1985), was applicable to the case sub judice. Stanton stands for the proposition that a suit based on quantum merit precludes recovery of prejudgment interest and attorney fees. See also McLain v. West Side Bone & Joint Ctr., 656 So.2d 119, 123 (Miss.1995). The trial court reasoned that, notwithstanding the letter and testimony of Engineer Kemp, the County ultimately, before suit was filed, determined that it would reject the road work in its entirety. The County's position was that the defect ran throughout the entire project. Because Southland was awarded an amount in quantum merit, we find that the County is not liable for statutory interest or attorney's fees.