A ruling from Florida's Fourth District Court of Appeal recognized that under Florida law, prejudgment interest is not a penalty, but rather is an element of compensatory damages which is traditionally imposed on intangible damages.

The issue arose from Dr. Amarnath Vedere's, Cardiology Partners P.L.'s, and Healthcare Underwriters Group Inc's appeal of a final judgment, following a jury verdict in favor of plaintiff Deborah Sanford, as personal representative of the Estate of Gerald L. Sanford, in a medical malpractice wrongful death suit.