PRINTER'S NO. 2783
No. 2189 Session of 1980
INTRODUCED BY EARLEY, LEVIN AND RYAN, JANUARY 29, 1980
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, JANUARY 29, 1980
AN ACT
1 Amending Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the
2 Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, providing for the payment
3 of interest on certain judgements.
4 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
5 hereby enacts as follows:
6 Section 1. Section 8101 of Title 42, act of November 25,
7 1970 (P.L.707, No.230), known as the Pennsylvania Consolidated
8 Statutes, is amended to read:
9 § 8101. Interest on judgments.
10 (a) General rule.--Except as otherwise provided by another
11 statute, a judgment for a specific sum of money shall bear
12 interest at the lawful rate from the date of the verdict or
13 award, or from the date of the judgment, if the judgment is not
14 entered upon a verdict or award.
15 (b) Trespass action exceptions.--
16 (1) Any judgment for compensatory damages in an action
17 in trespass shall bear interest at the lawful rate which
18 shall be added by the court and shall be computed from the
1 date of accrual of the cause of action.
2 (2) Every insurer, subject to the overall monetary limit
3 of its policy, shall be liable to its insured for the payment
4 of interest imposed pursuant to this subsection.
5 (3) If at any time prior to trial a defendant makes a
6 written offer of settlement in a specified sum with prompt
7 cash payment to the plaintiff, and continues this offer in
8 effect until commencement of the trial without such offer
9 being accepted, and the plaintiff does not recover by award,
10 verdict or decision more than 125% of the offer, interest
11 shall not be added for the period between the date the offer
12 was made and the date of the verdict or award or from the
13 date of judgment, if judgment is not entered upon a verdict
14 or award.
15 (4) In determining the period for which interest shall
16 be added, any portion of said period which is also relied
17 upon for computation of damages for delay pursuant to court
18 rule shall not be included unless the plaintiff elects to
19 receive interest with respect to said portion in lieu of
20 damages for delay.
21 Section 2. This act shall take effect in 30 days and shall
22 apply to all causes of action accruing thereafter.
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