FOSHEIM, Justice.
Appeals # 15041, # 15042, and # 15043 raise issues which stem from a common factual setting and were litigated in a single trial. # 15041 is the appeal of First National Bank of Minneapolis (Bank) from a dismissal of its suit against Touche Ross and Company (Touche Ross). # 15042 is the appeal of Kehn Ranch, Inc. (Kehn Ranch or the Ranch) and members of the Kehn family from judgments based on the jury verdicts in favor of Bank and Milbank Mutual Insurance Co. (Milbank). # 15043 is the appeal of Collateral Control Corp. (Collateral Control) from the dismissal of its suit against Milbank.
Although these appeals were not formally consolidated, they were argued together before this court. In the interest of clarity and to avoid repetition of facts, they are reviewed and resolved in this single decision. We affirm in part, reverse in part, and remand.
FACTS
Kehn Ranch is a South Dakota corporation owned by Clark Kehn, Bonnie Kehn, and Edwin Kehn (the Kehns). The Ranch conducted a cattle ranching operation on [713]*71315,000 acres in Gregory County and other leased land in South Dakota counties. In March of 1978, Bank approved a $5,000,000 seasonal line of credit for the Ranch. The loan was secured by the cattle, feed, crops, and equipment of the Ranch; Bank also received the personal guarantees of the Kehns. As required by the loan agreement, the Ranch retained Touche Ross, a certified public accounting firm, to audit the Ranch’s financial statements, and Collateral Control, a Minnesota company, to provide a field warehousing operation. Milbank insured the Ranch under a policy which covered the Ranch against cattle theft.
Kehn Ranch records reveal that the Ranch owned more than 7,000 head of cattle at the time of the loan. According to other records, the Ranch purchased approximately 10,300 cattle and sold approximately 7,100 head during 1978; in addition, numerous calves were born. Financial statements audited by Touche Ross, dated September 30, 1978, show the Ranch then owned over 15,000 head of cattle.
In 1979, Bank extended further credit to the Ranch, and the Ranch’s total indebtedness late that year exceeded $9,500,000. According to its internal records, the Ranch owned over 21,000 head of cattle as of July 6, 1979. Financial statements audited by Touche Ross showed the Ranch owning approximately 20,000 head of cattle as of September 30, 1979.
In January of 1980, Bank requested that Collateral Control conduct an inventory of the Ranch. That inventory revealed about 4,000 head of cattle. According to Bank, Kehn Ranch should have then owned 16,-000. Because of this 12,000 head shortfall, Bank demanded payment of all loans, took control of the Ranch, and sold the existing collateral. Shortly after Bank’s discovery of the shortage, the Kehns notified Mil-bank of the loss and claimed the cattle had been stolen. Milbank denied the theft claim.
Early in 1982, Bank sued the Ranch and the individual Kehns for fraud and on the promissory notes and personal guarantees. Bank also sued Touche Ross and Collateral Control, alleging negligence and fraud. The Ranch and Collateral Control sued Mil-bank on the insurance contract, joining the insurer as a third-party defendant. Kehn Ranch filed for bankruptcy shortly after Bank initiated its suit, but in June of 1982, the Kehns entered into a stipulation with Bank requesting the' bankruptcy court to lift the automatic stay of state court proceedings. The stay was lifted and the case went to trial.
The jury returned verdicts for Bank and against Kehn Ranch and the individual Kehns in the amount of $7,222,530 each. An additional $100,000 punitive damages were assessed against Clark Kehn. The trial court added an award to Bank of $6,244,245.10 in interest on the unpaid promissory notes and $252,502.03 in interest from the date of the verdict to the date of the judgment. In addition, the trial court awarded costs of $204,007.38 and at> torney’s fees of $1,000,000 to Bank and against the Ranch, Clark Kehn, and Bonnie Kehn. The jury awarded the Ranch $300,-000 for Bank’s failure to liquidate the collateral in a commercially reasonable manner. The trial court offset this award to the Ranch against the amount awarded to Bank.
The jury, finding no theft of the missing cattle, determined that Kehn Ranch and Collateral Control should receive nothing from Milbank. The trial court thereafter dismissed their suit as frivolous. On Mil-bank’s motion, the trial court ordered the Kehns, the Ranch, and Collateral Control to pay Milbank $500,000 in attorney’s fees and $40,686.77 in costs.
In Bank’s suit against Touche Ross, the jury returned a verdict finding that Touche Ross negligently caused damage to Bank. However, the jury determined that Bank should receive no damages from Touche Ross.
APPEAL # 15042
I.
The first issue raised by the Kehns in appeal # 15042 is whether Bank should be [714]*714barred from obtaining a deficiency judgment due to its failure to give notice to the Kehns of the sale of collateral. Two days after Bank took control of the Kehn Ranch, the Kehns signed a document granting Bank the right to take possession of, and sell, all the cattle, feed, and other personal property of the Kehns in which Bank had a security interest. In the same document, the Kehns waived their right to receive prior notice of any sale of collateral by Bank. Bank proceeded to sell the cattle at auction, but did not notify the Kehns of the sale. After the collateral was sold, Bank initiated this lawsuit to recover the deficiency. Bank’s failure to give notice to the Kehns became an issue at trial. The jury found that Bank had failed to give reasonable notice of the sale of collateral to the Kehns. Despite this finding, the jury awarded Bank the deficiency judgment of $7,220,530 (excluding interest), as above stated. The Kehns maintain that Bank’s failure to give notice should bar the award of this deficiency judgment. We disagree.
Article 9 of the UCC authorizes a creditor to create a security interest in the personal property of the debtor. SDCL ch. 57A-9. SDCL 57A-9-504 states that after a default by the debtor, the secured party may sell or dispose of the collateral in any commercially reasonable manner. The creditor must send notice to the debtor of the sale of collateral unless the collateral is perishable, threatens to decline speedily in value, or is of a type customarily sold on a recognized market. SDCL 57A-9-504(3). Bank argues that a cattle auction is a sale on a recognized market, thereby eliminating the requirement that notice be sent to the Kehns.
Under the UCC, a recognized market is one in which sales involve many items so similar that individual differences are non-existent or immaterial, where haggling and competitive bidding are not primary factors in each sale, and where prices paid in actual sales of comparable property are currently available by quotation. Norton v. National Bank of Commerce of Pine Bluff, 240 Ark. 143, 398 S.W.2d 538 (1966); 1st Charter Lease Co. v. McAl, Inc., 679 P.2d 114 (Colo.Ct.App.1984). Clearly, the New York Stock Exchange and the bond and commodity markets are recognized markets under the UCC. Fletcher v. Cobuzzi, 499 F.Supp. 694 (W.D.Pa.1980); Marine Midland Bank-Rochester v. Vaeth, 88 Misc.2d 657, 388 N.Y.S.2d 548 (1976); J. White and R. Summers, Uniform Commercial Code § 26-10 (2d ed. 1980). On the other hand, courts have ruled that the following items are not sold on recognized markets: used cars, Community Manage. Ass’n of Colorado Sp. v. Tousely, 32 Colo.App. 33, 505 P.2d 1314 (1973); Federal Deposit Ins. Corp. v. Farrar, 231 N.W.2d 602 (Iowa 1975); computer hardware, 1st Charter Lease Co., supra; Indian jewelry, Gibson v. Hagberg, 11 U.C.C. Rep.Serv. 655 (N.M.Dist.Ct.1972); household appliances, In re Bro Cliff, Inc., 8 U.C.C.Rep.Serv. 1144 (W.D.Mich.1971); and boats with motors and trailers. In re Bishop, 11 U.C.C.Rep.Serv. 1071 (W.D.Va.1972), aff'd 482 F.2d 381 (4th Cir.1973).
The question of whether cattle fall within the category of collateral customarily sold on a recognized market is marginal. Two jurisdictions have held that cattle are not sold on a recognized market. Wippert v. Blackfeet Tribe, 695 P.2d 461 (Mont.1985); State Bank of Towner v. Hanson, 302 N.W.2d 760 (N.D.1981). However, in a recent decision dealing with the notice requirement of SDCL 57A-9-504, the Federal District Court for South Dakota refused to apply the rule set forth in State Bank of Towner and Wippert. In Arcoren v. Peters, 627 F.Supp. 1513 (D.S.D.1986), the defendants (FmHA officials) repossessed the plaintiff’s cattle and sold them without giving notice to the plaintiff. The plaintiff argued that the FmHA, which had a security interest in the cattle, violated his right to notice under SDCL 57A-9-504(3), and he cited State Bank of Towner and Wippert as authority. The federal court rejected the plaintiff’s contention, partly because the North Dakota and Montana cases were decided after the plaintiff’s cause of action arose. But the court went further and [715]*715stated, “In addition, two state court cases, from states other than South Dakota, can hardly be said to ‘clearly establish’ the law applicable here. Defendants therefore violated no ‘clearly established’ statutory rights of the plaintiff.” Arcoren, 627 F.Supp. at 1519. It is apparent that the federal court declined to embrace the rationale of State Bank of Towner and Wippert.
We agree with the position of the federal court. Admittedly, the cattle market is not identical to the New York Stock Exchange or the bond markets. But like the stock exchange, prices paid for cattle are available by quotation on a daily basis, as are prices paid for shares on the NYSE. Furthermore, when the Bank took possession of the security, cattle were being traded daily on the commodity futures markets, similar to grain and other commodities. Under such a marketing system there is no room for bidding on individual cattle, and “[t]he forces of supply and demand determine price and the valuation of goods.... ” J. White & R. Summers, Uniform Commercial Code § 26-10, at 1111 (2d ed. 1980) (defining a recognized market; note that the commentators regard the commodity markets as “recognized markets”). To claim otherwise would seemingly deny the obvious. We accordingly conclude that commercial cattle herds raised for sale at public livestock markets are collateral “of a type customarily sold on a recognized market” for purposes of SDCL 57A-9-504(3).1 It follows that under the given facts, the Bank was not required to send notice to the Kehns of the sale of the cattle. In view of this conclusion we need not consider whether the Kehns effectively waived notice of the sale of collateral.
II.
The second set of issues raised by the Kehns deals with the trial court’s jurisdiction in light of the separate bankruptcy proceeding in this case. Kehn Ranch and the individual Kehns filed for bankruptcy on May 11, 1982. As stated in the facts above, the bankruptcy court lifted the automatic stay and allowed the trial to proceed in state court. At the conclusion of the trial, the trial court awarded accrued interest of $6,244,245.10 to the Bank; it also ruled that the $300,000 judgment in favor of Kehn Ranch should be offset against the judgment awarded Bank. On appeal, the Kehns argue that any award of interest lies solely within the jurisdiction of the bankruptcy court. The Kehns also claim that the $300,000 judgment in favor of the Ranch must be sent back to the bankruptcy court for disbursement rather than be offset against the judgment awarded Bank. Finally, the Kehns argue that if there is an offset of $300,000, it should apply to them individually as well as to the Ranch.
Under the federal bankruptcy code, a petition for bankruptcy operates as an automatic stay, applicable to all other judicial proceedings against the debtor commenced prior to the bankruptcy petition. 11 U.S.C. § 362 (1982). Despite this rule, the automatic stay can be waived by a stipulation of the parties. In re Herrera, 23 B.R. 796 (9th Cir.1982); In re Sando, 30 B.R. 474 (E.D.Pa.1983). Furthermore, an order of the bankruptcy court lifting the stay returns the parties to the legal relationships that existed before the stay, thereby allowing other courts to exercise concurrent jurisdiction with the bankruptcy court. Matter of Winslow, 39 B.R. 869 (N.D.Ga.1984); Matter of Ricks, 26 B.R. 134 (D.Idaho 1983).
In the present case, the record clearly indicates that the Kehns stipulated to a waiver of the stay; and as stated, the bankruptcy court lifted the stay to allow this state court action by the Bank. Therefore, the trial court had concurrent jurisdiction with the bankruptcy court when it awarded the approximately $6,000,000 in interest to the Bank. The Kehns cite no bankruptcy code provision which prevents [716]*716a creditor from obtaining interest once the stay is lifted and the matter is adjudicated in a state court. Nor are we aware of any such prohibition concerning the set-off of the $300,000 judgment awarded to Kehn Ranch. The bankruptcy code states that creditors will be allowed to offset mutual debts between the parties which arose before the bankruptcy case began. 11 U.S.C. § 553 (1982). The allowance of a set-off recognizes the injustice resulting from compelling a creditor to pay the bankrupt estate the full value of a claim owed, while at the same time requiring the creditor to forfeit a claim due from the debtor. United States v. Brunner, 282 F.2d 535 (10th Cir.1960); Krajci v. Mt. Vernon Consumer Discount Co., 16 B.R. 464 (E.D.Pa.1981). Consequently, the Kehns’ argument that there should be no offset is without merit.
The Kehns are correct, however, in arguing that the $300,000 offset should apply to them individually as well as to the Ranch. Kehn Ranch was principally liable for the loans made by the Bank, while the individual Kehns were guarantors. It is well-settled that the liability of a guarantor cannot exceed that of the principal. International Multifoods Conp. v. Mardian, 379 N.W.2d 840 (S.D.1985); Richter v. Industrial Finance Company, Inc., 88 S.D. 466, 221 N.W.2d 31 (1974). The acceptance by the creditor of anything in partial satisfaction of an obligation reduces the obligation of the guarantor in the same measure as that of the principal. SDCL 56-1-25; 38 C.J.S. Guaranty § 77 (1943). Therefore, since the Ranch’s obligation to the Bank was reduced by $300,000, the individual obligations of the Kehns must be likewise mitigated. We remand on this issue and direct the trial court to modify the judgment accordingly.
III.
During trial, the Kehns alleged that the nearly 12,000 missing cattle had been stolen and that Milbank, as the insurer, was liable for the loss. The jury rejected the theft claims and found that the Kehns could not recover from Milbank. The trial court then dismissed the theft claim as frivolous and awarded $500,000 in attorney’s fees and $40,686.77 in costs to Mil-bank under SDCL 15-17-35. That statute, adopted in 1984, provides:
If a cause of action against any person is dismissed, and the court determines that the cause of action was frivolous or brought for malicious purposes, the court may order the plaintiff to pay any or all costs incurred by the person in defending the cause of action, including reasonable attorney’s fees.
The Kehns argue that these awards are improper because SDCL 15-17-35 cannot be retroactively applied to cases which arose prior to the date of its enactment. We agree.
It is settled law in this state that a statute will not operate retroactively unless the legislative act clearly expresses an intent that it so operate. Matter of Adams, 329 N.W.2d 882 (S.D.1983); State ex rel. Van Emmerik v. Janklow, 304 N.W.2d 700 (S.D.1981). Also, under SDCL 2-14-24, no civil action commenced before the present code of laws took effect is affected by its provisions. SDCL 15-17-35 indicates no retroactive intent. See 1984 S.D.Sess.Laws ch. 157. Accordingly, we must conclude that the Kehn lawsuit filed against Milbank in 1983 is not’ affected by a statute subsequently enacted in 1984.
Milbank urges this court to apply an exception to the general rule against retroactive application of statutes. In Brookings County v. Sayre, 53 S.D. 350, 220 N.W. 918 (1928), we ruled that an amendment to a statute could be retroactively applied because it created no new liability and affected only the remedy. See also Dakota Central Telephone Co. v. Mitchell Power Co., 45 S.D. 462, 188 N.W. 750 (1922).
Milbank’s reliance on Brookings County is misplaced. The new provision found at SDCL 15-17-35 is not an alteration of present attorney’s fees and cost statutes nor is it a substitute for an abuse of process action. The statute created a new and [717]*717greater liability for attorney’s fees and costs when a frivolous case is dismissed; consequently, it may only be prospectively applied.
We are equally unpersuaded by authority from other jurisdictions cited by Milbank. While some states apparently take a more expansive view with regard to the retroactive application of attorney’s fees statutes, we decline to do so under the clear mandate of SDCL 2-14-24 and our prior decisions on the retroactive application of statutes. Moreover, even if doubt about the Legislature’s intent arises in cases such as this, “the doubt must be resolved against the retrospective effect and in favor of prospective construction only.” State v. Westling, 81 S.D. 34, 38, 130 N.W.2d 109, 111 (1964) (quoting 82 C.J.S.Statutes § 414; see also cases cited therein). Therefore, we reverse the award of costs and attorney’s fees to Milbank under SDCL 15-17-35.
The newly enacted sanction being inapplicable to this action, the trial court should have made any costs and attorney’s fees awards under the remaining statutes allocating such expenses. See SDCL 15-6-54(d); SDCL ch. 15-17. See also, City of Aberdeen v. Lutgen, 273 N.W.2d 183 (S.D.1979). We therefore remand for calculation of costs under these statutes.
IV.
After the jury returned its verdict, the Bank filed a motion and memorandum of law requesting the trial court to award prejudgment interest. The trial court granted the motion and ordered Kehn Ranch and the individual Kehns to pay interest in the amount of $6,244,245.10. That award was based upon the interest rate of the notes, calculated from the date of the default to the date of the verdict. The Kehns argue that the award of prejudgment interest was improper because the various claims of liability and the defenses asserted by the different parties precluded any certain calculation of damages owed to the Bank.
Under SDCL 21-1-11, the prevailing party is entitled to prejudgment interest only if damages are certain or capable of being made certain by calculation. Hepper v. Triple U Enterprises, Inc., 388 N.W.2d 525 (S.D.1986); Subsurfco, Inc. v. B-Y Water District, 369 N.W.2d 129 (S.D.1985). Prejudgment interest is not to be awarded if the damages are uncertain until determined by the trier of fact. Hanson v. Funk Seeds Intern., 373 N.W.2d 30 (S.D.1985), and cases cited therein; Arcon Const. Co. v. S.D. Cement Plant, 349 N.W.2d 407 (S.D.1984).
Here, the Bank’s claim was based upon the promissory notes and the interest rates contained therein. However, the Bank also claimed fraud on the part of the Kehns, and the jury awarded $300,000 to Kehn Ranch because the Bank failed to liquidate the collateral in a commercially reasonable manner. The trial court ordered the amount due the Bank to be offset by any damages due the Kehns. Consequently, the Bank’s damages were not certain or capable of being made certain until the jury returned its verdict. Therefore, the Bank was not entitled to recover prejudgment interest, and the trial court erred in awarding prejudgment interest. See Hepper, supra, which dealt with the question of prejudgment interest when there has been an offset of damages.
V.
The Kehns argue that the trial court erred in imposing a post-judgment interest rate of 15%. SDCL 54-3-5.1 and -16 establish the interest rate on judgments at 15%. SDCL 54-3-17 authorizes the Division of Banking and Finance to annually review the current interest rate and, if necessary, to recommend changes in the interest rate to the Legislature. The Kehns claim that SDCL 54-3-17 constitutes an unlawful delegation of legislative powers to the Division of Banking and Finance.
The South Dakota Constitution states, “The legislative power of the State shall be vested in a Legislature ...” Art. Ill, § 1. The Legislature cannot abdicate [718]*718its essential power to enact policies into law, nor can it delegate such power to any other department or body. However, the Legislature may delegate quasi-legislative powers to an administrative agency for the purpose of carrying legislation into effect. State v. Smith, 88 S.D. 76, 216 N.W.2d 149 (1974); Boe v. Foss, 76 S.D. 295, 77 N.W.2d 1 (1956). In order for there to be a proper delegation of authority to an administrative agency there must be (1) a clearly expressed legislative will to delegate power, and (2) a sufficient guide or standard to guide the agency. Matter of Ackerson, Karlen, & Schmitt, 335 N.W.2d 342 (S.D.1983); S.D. Migratory Bird Ass’n v. S.D. Game, Fish and Parks, 312 N.W.2d 374 (S.D.1981).
In the present case, the Legislature clearly expressed a will to delegate power to the Division of Banking and Finance under SDCL 54-3-17. Moreover, the Legislature set guidelines for the Division to follow: current interest rates, the rate of inflation, and the prime lending rate. As a result, SDCL 54-3-17 meets the requirements for a proper delegation of authority to an administrative agency. It is also important to note that under SDCL 54-3-17, the Division of Banking only has authority to make recommendations to the Legislature; it has no authority to change existing legislation. Therefore, the statute is constitutionally permissible. See Hogen v. South Dakota Bd. of Transp., 245 N.W.2d 493 (S.D.1976).
The Kehns also argue that if this Court upholds SDCL 54-3-17, the Court should find that the 15% interest rate is improper and against the intent of the Legislature. We find this argument to be without merit.
VI.
Finally, the Kehns raise various other issues in their brief but fail to support them with any authority. Consequently, the issues are deemed waived. SDCL 15-26A-60; State v. Grooms, 359 N.W.2d 901 (S.D.1984); Corbly v. Matheson, 335 N.W.2d 347 (S.D.1983); State v. Shull, 331 N.W.2d 284 (S.D.1983).
APPEAL # 15041
In appeal # 15041, the Bank disputes a dismissal of its suit against Touche Ross, which had been employed to audit the Ranch financial statements. The Bank alleged that Touche Ross functioned fraudulently or negligently and that as a result, the Bank suffered damages. At trial, Touche Ross argued that it performed professional work and did not intentionally make any false statements, that the Bank did not rely on its audit reports, and that its actions did not contribute to the Bank’s loss on the Kehn Ranch loan.
The jury absolved Touche Ross of fraud, but did find the accounting firm negligent. The verdict form apportioned 50% fault to both Bank and Touche Ross; however, the jury indicated that no damages would be awarded to Bank by making a “dash” after the damage question.2 The jury was then discharged. Because of a claimed inconsistency between the finding of negligence and the denial of damages, Bank moved for a new trial to establish damages. Bank appeals from the denial of that motion. The single issue is whether the verdict finding that Touche Ross negligently caused damage to the Bank, and that Touche Ross was 50% at fault, but which [719]*719awards no damages to Bank, is so inconsistent as to require a new trial.
Whether a new trial motion is granted or denied is within the discretion of the trial court, and an order denying a new trial will be reversed on appeal only when a clear abuse of that discretion appears. Cargill, Inc. v. Elliott Farms, Inc., 363 N.W.2d 212 (S.D.1985). The record must be viewed in favor of the verdict. Schaub v. Job, 335 N.W.2d 568 (S.D.1983). All matters properly and timely presented to the trial court by application for a new trial may be reviewed. SDCL 15-26A-9. See also SDCL 15-6-59(a).
Initially, we find that Bank’s claim has been preserved on appeal. The alleged error in the nature of the jury’s response to the damage question on the verdict form was not one so patent, irregular, and easily corrected that Bank’s failure to object when the verdict was returned precludes appellate review of the claimed error in the verdict. Fjerstad v. Sioux Valley Hospital, 291 N.W.2d 786, 788 (S.D.1980). The Bank’s claim involves several sub-issues regarding instructions, the verdict form, and the nature of the jury answer. Therefore, the allegation was not about a simple mechanical error that could have been readily returned to the jury for correction.
We also note that the trial court ruled Minnesota law would govern the tort claims in this case. Touche Ross, by failing to file a notice of review, has not preserved the propriety of that decision as an issue on appeal. In re Application of Trade Development Bank, 382 N.W.2d 47 (S.D.1986).
Bank’s strongest argument is that the jury’s failure to quantify a damage award prior to apportioning fault is contrary to Minnesota law. Minnesota’s comparative fault statute provides:
Contributory fault shall not bar recovery in an action by any person or his legal representative to recover damages for fault resulting in death or in injury to person or property, if the contributory fault was not greater than the fault of the person against whom recovery is sought, but any damages allowed shall be diminished in proportion to the amount of fault attributable to the person recovering. The court may, and when requested by any party shall, direct the jury to find separate special verdicts determining the amount of damages and the percentage of fault attributable to each party; and the court shall then reduce the amount of damages in proportion to the amount of fault attributable to the person recovering.
Minn.Stat. § 604.01(1) (in pertinent part). Bank contends the verdict awarding no damages (indicated on the form by a “dash”) is clearly inconsistent with the Minnesota statute.
[T]he jury could have subtracted First Bank’s 50% fault from Touche Ross’ 50% fault. Because the resulting zero percent when applied against any damage amount would result in no damages, the jury could have mistakenly concluded that First Bank could not recover any damages against Touche Ross, and, therefore, did not answer the question. This mistake is clearly inconsistent with Minn.Stat. § 604.01 which requires the First Bank recover 50% of the damages caused by Touche Ross.
Bank Brief at 11-12. To conclude that a failure to award damages was clearly contrary to law, however, would require this court to find that either the verdict form was fatally defective or that some measure of damages had to be awarded since negligence was established. This we decline to do.
First, the lex loci delicti or “place of the wrong” test applied by the trial court governs the substantive rights of the parties to a multistate tort action. Heidemann v. Rohl, 86 S.D. 250, 194 N.W.2d 164 (1972). That portion of the Minnesota law which directs the trial court to calculate the damages after the jury quantifies and apportions them is procedural only. It is not so intertwined with the substantive provisions that failure to follow it would preclude correct application of [720]*720the substantive law. Accordingly, we cannot find the verdict form fatally defective. The jury was properly instructed on the nature of the applicable comparative fault statute and the verdict form did not preclude following those instructions. It is, of course, presumed that the jury understood and abided by these instructions. Fjerstad, supra, at 788.
Furthermore, we cannot conclude that a failure to award damages is inconsistent with the finding that Touche Ross negligently damaged Bank. The question of damages is strictly for the trier of fact. Kent v. Allied Oil & Supply, Inc., 264 N.W.2d 512 (S.D.1978); Kamp Dakota, Inc. v. Salem Lumber Co. Inc., 89 S.D. 696, 237 N.W.2d 180 (1975). The jury’s verdict will not be set aside except in extreme cases where the jury has palpably mistaken the rules of law by which damages in a particular case are to be measured. Stoltz v. Stonecypher, 336 N.W.2d 654, 657 (S.D.1983) (quoting Simons v. Kidd, 73 S.D. 306, 811, 42 N.W.2d 307, 311 (1950)). Moreover, the jury was instructed 3 to consider whether Bank’s failure to mitigate damages negated any loss caused by Touche Ross. We cannot substitute our judgment for the jury’s in denying damages. See Kamp Dakota, supra.
We distinguish the facts and circumstances before us from those in Pexa v. Clark, 85 S.D. 37, 176 N.W.2d 497 (1970), and Anderson v. Paulson, 77 S.D. 583, 96 N.W.2d 305 (1959). In Pexa, the jury awarded damages for medical expenses, pain, and suffering caused the decedent, but failed to award any damages for his wrongful death. We reversed for a new trial on the wrongful death theory, concluding that the undisputed evidence was sufficient to justify some damages for this action. Here, the jury denied any monetary award to Bank from Touche Ross. Furthermore, the evidence of damages was highly disputed.
In Anderson, the jury attempted to award damages to a personal injury plaintiff but declined to find the defendant negligent. Their verdict was accompanied with a note, which read:
“We, the undersigned jurors, do feel that with the evidence and Court’s instructions submitted, the defendant, Lee Paulson, was not guilty of negligence. However, this jury feels Julius Anderson, the plaintiff, should receive money in the amount of twenty-five hundred dollars ($2,500.00), cash settlement.”
77 S.D. at 584, 96 N.W.2d at 305. This court concluded that the verdict, when considered with the note, did not express an actual and final conclusion and was not clear, certain, and free from ambiguity. Here, we have no indication that the jury did not express a final conclusion by its verdict or that they failed to abide by instructions.
Even though a verdict is susceptible of two constructions, the construction that sustains the verdict must be applied. Fjerstad, supra; Mid-America Marketing Corp. v. Dakota, Etc., 289 N.W.2d 797, 799 (S.D.1980) (and cases cited therein). The mitigation instruction permits a sustainable construction. Accordingly, since we can construe the verdict to mean that the jury found Touche Ross negligent but that no compensable damages were caused, we must do so.
The judgment in appeal # 15041 is affirmed.
APPEAL # 15043
We conclude with appeal # 15043. At trial, Collateral Control joined the Kehns in alleging that the missing cattle had been stolen and that Milbank, as the insurer, was liable for the theft loss. As it had done with the Kehns, the trial court dismissed Collateral Control’s claims and awarded $500,000 in attorney’s fees and [721]*721$40,686.77 in costs to Milbank under SDCL 15-17-35. Collateral Control likewise claims these awards are improper because SDCL 15-17-35 cannot be retroactively applied to this case.
We resolved this claim in issue III of appeal # 15042. That resolution is applied here by reference. We accordingly reverse the award of costs and attorney’s fees to Milbank under SDCL 15-17-35 and remand for calculation of costs under SDCL 15-6-54(d) and the remaining sections of SDCL ch. 15-17.
DISPOSITION
The judgment in appeal # 15041 is affirmed. The judgment in appeal # 15042 is affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded to the trial court to modify the judgment in accordance with this opinion. The judgment in appeal # 15043 is reversed and remanded for recalculation of costs.
HENDERSON, J., and BRADSHAW, Circuit Judge, concur.
WUEST, C.J., concurs specially.
MORGAN, J., concurs in part, concurs in result in part, and dissents in part.
BRADSHAW, Circuit Judge, sitting for Sabers, J., disqualified.