Torts Generally. A tort is a civil wrong in which a plaintiff seeks monetary compensation for harm to the plaintiff's person or property. Tort law includes actions based on negligence, intentional conduct, and strict liability. Damages that may be awarded to an injured plaintiff include both economic damages, such as lost earnings and medical expenses, and noneconomic damages, such as pain and suffering, and emotional distress.

Post-Judgment Interest. Under state law, interest on tort judgments accrues from the date of entry of the judgment at a rate specified in statute. In a case where a court is directed on review to enter judgment on a verdict, or where a judgment entered on a verdict is wholly or partly affirmed on review, interest on the judgment or on that portion of the judgment affirmed dates back and accrues from the date the verdict was rendered.
 
For the tortious conduct of a public agency, the post-judgment interest rate is 2 percent above the equivalent coupon issue yield of the average bill rate for 26 weeks of treasury bills.
 
For the tortious conduct of individuals and entities, the post judgment interest rate is 2 percent above the prime rate.
 
Prejudgment Interest. Prejudgment interest is intended to make a plaintiff whole by compensating for the use value of damages incurred from the time of the loss until the date of judgment.

Interest on judgments for tortious conduct of public agencies, individuals, and other entities is modified to run from the date on which the cause of action accrues. This prejudgment interest applies only to arbitration awards and judgments entered following a trial of the matter. All other judgments founded on tortious conduct bear interest from the date of entry.

Interest on judgments for tortious conduct that occurred while a plaintiff was a minor begins to run from the date the action is commenced, or the date the minor turns 18 years old, whichever is earlier, at the same rates as currently provided in statute.