Opinion ID: 2536393
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Vexatious Conduct

Text: ¶ 9. Prudential secured a supersedeas bond in the amount of 125% of the total judgment under Mississippi Rule of Appellate Procedure 8(a) in order to stay execution on the judgment. The bond provided for 8% interest each year for an estimated two years, from June 15, 2006, to June 15, 2008. The costs awarded to Prudential totaled $491,428.50, including both the cost of the bond premiums and the costs assessed Prudential by the Hinds County Circuit Court, which stemmed from preparing the record for appeal. ¶ 10. There is no evidence of vexatious conduct on the part of Prudential. Accordingly, the trial court did not err in awarding costs to Prudential. Since we find this issue to have no merit, the issue thus becomes whether it was necessary for Prudential to continue to maintain and pay the bond costs through June 2008, given that this Court issued the mandate on December 20, 2007. We analyze this question as part of Issue II.