Andrade v. State

BEVILACQUA, Chief Justice, with whom KELLEHER, Justice, joins,

dissenting.

The sole issue before us is whether prejudgment interest must be added to the amount recoverable against the state under G.L.1956 (1969 Reenactment) § 9-31-1, as enacted by P.L.1970, ch. 181, § 2, and, if so, whether the total judgment may exceed the maximum amount of damages recoverable under the act.

Our opinion turns on the following language of § 9-31-1 and of the prejudgment interest statute.

Section 9-31-1 provides that

“[t]he state of Rhode Island and any political subdivision thereof, including all cities and towns,…