Opinion ID: 1251828
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: prejudgment interest was improperly awarded to the contractor

Text: The Contractor contends that the trial court incorrectly determined the amount of prejudgment interest. He seeks an amount greater than that awarded below. The Bank argues that it is immaterial whether the interest was properly calculated because the Contractor is not, as a matter of law, entitled to any prejudgment interest. The applicable statute, 23 O.S. 1981 § 6, provides that: Any person who is entitled to recover damages certain, or capable of being made certain by calculation, and the right to recover which is vested in him upon a particular day, is entitled also to recover interest thereon from that day, except during such time as the debtor is prevented by law, or by the act of the creditor from paying the debt. The general rule is that prejudgment interest will not be allowed unless the amount of recovery is liquidated or capable of ascertainment by calculation or resort to well-established market values. [26] In the instant case, the amount to which the Contractor may be entitled for misapplication of trust funds is neither certain nor capable of being made certain until after trial. The Contractor was not entitled to an award for prejudgment interest. That portion of the decree is also reversed.