Opinion ID: 1778482
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: did the trial court err by failing to grant prejudgment interest?

Text: ¶ 41. The trial court ordered Alfa to pay Cossitt the sum of $1,000. On remand from Cossitt I, Cossitt had claimed she was entitled to an award of prejudgment interest on the medical benefits to which she was entitled to recover. Cossitt submits that the refusal to grant interest is reversible error. ¶ 42. In support of her position, Cossitt cites the general rule that in actions for breach of a contract of insurance, the insured is entitled to prejudgment interest on the amount of benefits which were withheld by the insurer after payment was due. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co. v. Bishop, 329 So.2d 670, 673 (Miss.1976). The only exception to this rule applies when the amount due the insured is uncertain or unliquidated. Cossitt claims that this exception does not apply since Alfa admits owing the sum of $1,000 as of November 1,1985. ¶ 43. Alfa asserts that Cossitt is not entitled to prejudgment interest based on Simpson v. State Farm Fire and Casualty Co., 564 So.2d 1374, 1381 (Miss.1990). Alfa appears to have the supporting law in Simpson. There, the Court held that [t]he insured must include a proper demand or request for prejudgment interest, including from when it is allegedly due, in the pleadings. Id. at 1380-81 (citing Maryland Cas. Co. v. Legg, 247 So.2d 812 (Miss.1971)) (emphasis added). Because Cossitt's Answer and Counterclaim failed to include such a demand, Alfa asserts that the trial court did not err in its award to Cossitt. Cossitt makes no response to this argument in her Reply Brief. (Cossitt did claim she was entitled to prejudgment interest in her attempt to amend her answer. However, the trial court denied her motion based on this Court's limited inquiry on remand.) ¶ 44. Cossitt's request for prejudgment interest is not in the pleadings. Therefore, she is not entitled to such an award per this Court's holding in Simpson. Accordingly, the trial court's denial of prejudgment interest is affirmed.