A tool designed to compute the monetary accumulation on a legal award between the time a lawsuit is filed and the date of judgment is rendered. For instance, if a plaintiff is awarded $100,000 in damages and two years elapse between the filing and the judgment, this tool can calculate the additional interest earned during that period, assuming a specified rate.
This computation serves a crucial purpose within the legal system, ensuring fair compensation for plaintiffs by accounting for the time value of money. It acknowledges that a delayed award effectively deprives the rightful recipient of potential investment returns or other uses of the funds. Historically, such mechanisms have evolved to deter unnecessary litigation delays and encourage timely resolutions, thereby promoting efficiency within the judicial process.