William Collins, Inc. v. South Dakota State Board of Transportation
Docket: No. 12940
Court: South Dakota Supreme Court; November 4, 1980; South Dakota; State Supreme Court
William Collins, Inc. was awarded $60,535.51 plus interest in a construction contract dispute against the South Dakota State Board of Transportation. The State appealed the portion of the judgment that granted interest, arguing that the trial court erred in awarding interest from the date payment was due after project completion to the date of judgment satisfaction, citing SDCL 31-2-38 and 31-2-39, which they claimed do not authorize interest payments. However, referencing Sweetman Const. Co. Inc. v. State, the court clarified that these statutes address the satisfaction of judgments against the Highway Department and do not prohibit interest. According to SDCL 21-1-11, interest is permissible as damages when the amount is determinable as of a specific date, which was the case upon project completion. The court upheld the trial court's decision, affirming the award of interest and the method of its calculation.