Opinion ID: 1591402
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: whether the circuit court erred in granting hall's motion for post-judgment interest.

Text: ¶ 39. Miss.Code Ann. § 75-17-7 (Rev.2000) provides that judgments in cases such as this  shall bear interest at a per annum rate set by the judge hearing the complaint from a date determined by such judge to be fair but in no event prior to the filing of the complaint. (Emphasis added.) Here, the circuit court did not include post-judgment interest in its memorandum opinion and judgment. Subsequently, Hall filed a motion for post-judgment interest, which was granted. ¶ 40. Hall filed her motion under M.R.C.P. 60(a), alleging that the circuit court's failure to address her prayer for post-judgment interest was a clerical error. East Mississippi contends, however, that her motion is, in actuality, a motion to alter or amend a judgment under M.R.C.P. 59(e), which is required to be filed within 10 days of the entry of judgment. Hall did not file her motion until 58 days after the circuit court filed its judgment. East Mississippi's argument does not take into account our ruling in U.S. Fidelity & Guar. Co. v. Estate of Francis ex rel. Francis, 825 So.2d 38, 50 (Miss.2002): We also hold the chancellor was within the bounds of his discretionary authority in awarding post-judgment interest. Because the right to post-judgment interest is a statutory right according to Miss.Code Ann. § 75-17-7 (1991), this Court does not conclude that the motion for interest was a motion to amend or alter the judgment. Therefore, we need not address the timeliness of filing the motion in accordance with M.R.C.P. 59. Miss.Code Ann. § 75-17-7 (1991) has been amended to allow interest at a per annum rate set by the judge. We hold that the chancellor's awarding of interest at the rate of one percent above the prime rate of eight percent was within his discretion under the revised statute. Therefore, under Francis, the Rule 59(e) 10-day limitation is not applicable to a motion for post-judgment interest. ¶ 41. Next, East Mississippi contends that the circuit court did not have jurisdiction to rule on the motion inasmuch as the motion was filed after East Mississippi had filed its notice of appeal. Indeed, the timely filing of a notice of appeal is jurisdictional. Smith v. Parkerson Lumber, Inc., 890 So.2d 832, 834 (Miss. 2003). We find, however, that, even if the circuit court did not have jurisdiction to rule upon Hall's motion, the error would be harmless due to the mandatory nature of Miss.Code Ann. § 75-17-7 (Rev.2000): post-judgment interest shall be awarded. ¶ 42. East Mississippi argues that post-judgment interest cannot be awarded where, as here, the award of compensatory damages is equal to the statutory cap of $250,000 under the Mississippi Tort Claims Act, Miss.Code Ann. § 11-46-15 (Rev.2002). Section 11-46-15(2) specifically excludes awards of punitive damages, pre-judgment interest and attorney's fees from being imposed against a governmental entity. Therefore, because the Legislature did not specifically exclude post-judgment interest, it may be awarded against governmental entities. See Miss. Transp. Comm'n v. Ronald Adams Contr., Inc., 753 So.2d 1077, 1094 (Miss.2000) (adopting plurality opinion in City of Jackson v. Williamson, 740 So.2d 818, 821 (Miss.1999)). Public policy also demands that governmental entities covered by the MTCA pay post-judgment interest: Several important public policy considerations undergird both legislative intent and our interpretation of that intent today regarding post-judgment interest. Post-judgment interest is generally recognized as a common-law element of actual damages in civil actions. In fact, we have long held that interest is not imposed as a penalty but instead as compensation for detention of overdue money. This resolves any questions of hybrid situations where the governmental entity is represented by an insurance company to which the governmental entity has paid a premium for costs, interest, and statutory damages. Indeed, our citizenry must be given the benefit of that which they have already paid. Dealing with the current issue as we have rectifies the gamut of potential scenarios that may arise. Further, simple interest is not a sufficient remedy. The utility of post-judgment interest, statutory damages, and costs is that of supplementing this simple damages interest with necessary additional damages. In addition, the application of post-judgment interest and statutory damages discourages frivolous appeals and encourages governmental actors to settle legitimate claims when made. The potential of paying post-judgment interest and statutory damages encourages speedy compensation of legitimate claims and discourages litigation of unworthy issues. The strategy of delaying payment until the award has actually diminished in value will be thwarted. The interests of worthy claimants and judicial economy will each be advanced by today's holdings. Williamson, 740 So.2d at 823 (citations omitted). ¶ 43. We find that, due to the mandatory nature of § 75-17-7 and because public policy heavily favors post-judgment interest, post-judgment interest over and above the statutory cap may be awarded against a governmental entity.