Dickson, C.J.
The plaintiff, Kathy Inman, challenges the trial court’s denial of her motion for prejudgment interest in the amount of $3,616.44 pursuant to Indiana Code Chapter 34-51-4. Inman’s appeal raises two questions regarding the scope of the Tort Prejudgment Interest Statute (“TPIS”), Ind. Code §§ 34-51-4-1 to -9: whether the TPIS applies to an action by an insured against an insurer to recover benefits under the insured’s underinsured motorist (“UIM”) policy; and whether prejudgment interest can be awarded in excess of the policy limits set forth in an insured’s UIM policy. Having granted transfer, we hold that the TPIS does apply to UIM cover age disputes because they are properly considered “civil actions arising out of tortious conduct” as required by Indiana Code Section 34-51-4-1. We also hold that, because prejudgment interest is a collateral litigation expense, it can be awarded in excess of an insured’s UIM policy limits. We conclude, however, that Inman is not entitled to prejudgment interest because the trial court acted within its discretion when it denied her request for prejudgment interest.
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Conclusion
Through its passage of the TPIS, the legislature has enacted a scheme which affords trial courts wide-ranging discretion to award prejudgment interest in civil actions arising out of tortious conduct, a broad category of cases which includes UIM coverage disputes. The trial court alone has discretion to determine whether to award prejudgment interest and what time period and interest rate to use in its computation. This discretion is not limited by insurance policy limits, the good-faith conduct of the parties, or the common law. [Footnote omitted.] Rather, it is limited only by the statutory requirements enumerated in Indiana Code Sections 34-51-4-1 to -9. Because the trial court here acted within its statutory discretion in denying Inman’s request for prejudgment interest, the judgment of the trial court is affirmed.
Rucker, David, Massa, Rush, JJ., concur.