Harvey v. Essex Bancorp, Inc.

Upon a complaint charging negligence, false imprisonment, and assault and battery, a jury returned verdicts assessing damages at $6,001.00 in favor of each of Anthony Harvey and Deborah Harvey. From each verdict, the jury subtracted $6,000 which had been paid in settlement to each of the plaintiffs by a codefendant, leaving net damages in each case of $1.00. The single question before us is whether prejudgment interest should be calculated on the aggregate amount of a jury’s verdict, or on the net verdict after a settlement has been deducted.

We outline pertinent facts the jury could have…