Shoplifting, Larceny, Robbery, Theft Prejudgment Interest in California

[snipss]

In a criminal grand theft case I know the statue for prejudgment interest is 10% plus restitution. But is there a maximum amount of years pre judgment interest can be charged for?

Also isn't 10% unreasable considering the US Treasury Rate is half that amount?

Where are the guidelines regarding prejudgement interest?

 

[dee_dub]

Wikipedia is your friend. The guidelines (laws, actually) are in the California Civil Code, s.3287-3291, here:

http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/displaycode?section=civ&group=03001-04000&file=3287-3291

There is no limit on the maximum amount of years on which pre-judgment interest can be charged. Which, if you think about it, is legit. The point of interest is to give the succeeding party the benefit of the funds they would have had lo those many years, and hopefully the money would have earned interest for them. If you go to far back, the statute of limitations is triggered.

10% does seem a tad high, at least by current standards.