Title: Rosa Hunter and Herbert Hunter, Jr. v. Mooring Tax Asset Group, LLC
Citation: N/A
Docket Number: 1080335
State: Alabama
Issuer: Alabama Supreme Court
Date: August 21, 2009

REL: 
08/21/2009 
Notice: T h i s 
o p i n i o n i s s u b j e c t t o f o r m a l 
r e v i s i o n b e f o r e 
p u b l i c a t i o n i n 
t h e advance 
s h e e t s o f 
Southern Reporter. 
R e a d e r s a r e r e q u e s t e d t o n o t i f y t h e Reporter of Decisions, 
Alabama 
A p p e l l a t e 
C o u r t s , 
300 D e x t e r Avenue, Montgomery, Alabama 36104-3741 
((334) 
2 2 9 - 0 6 4 9 ) , o f 
any t y p o g r a p h i c a l o r o t h e r e r r o r s , i n 
o r d e r t h a t c o r r e c t i o n s may be made 
b e f o r e t h e 
o p i n i o n i s p r i n t e d i n 
Southern Reporter. 
SUPREME COURT OF ALABAMA 
SPECIAL TERM, 2009 
1080335 
Rosa Hunter and H e r b e r t Hunter, 
J r . 
v. 
Mooring Tax A s s e t Group, LLC 
Appeal from M o b i l e C i r c u i t Court 
(CV-08-802) 
LYONS, 
J u s t i c e . 
R o s a H u n t e r a n d 
h e r s o n , H e r b e r t H u n t e r , J r . , a p p e a l 
f r o m 
a summary j u d g m e n t 
e n t e r e d 
a g a i n s t 
them on t h e i r 
c l a i m o f 
m a l i c i o u s 
p r o s e c u t i o n 
a g a i n s t 
M o o r i n g T a x A s s e t 
G r o u p , L L C 
( " M o o r i n g " ) . 
We r e v e r s e a n d remand. 
P r o c e d u r a l 
H i s t o r y a n d F a c t u a l B a c k g r o u n d 
1080335 
On A p r i l 23, 2008, t h e H u n t e r s s u e d M o o r i n g i n t h e M o b i l e 
C i r c u i t C o u r t . T h e y a s s e r t e d a c l a i m o f m a l i c i o u s p r o s e c u t i o n 
r e l a t i n g 
t o a 2 0 0 7 
a c t i o n 
a g a i n s t them by M o o r i n g t o 
q u i e t 
t i t l e 
t o and o b t a i n p o s s e s s i o n o f c e r t a i n p r o p e r t y . 
On 
May 
28, 
2008, 
M o o r i n g 
moved 
t o 
d i s m i s s 
t h e 
H u n t e r s ' 
a c t i o n 
p u r s u a n t t o R u l e 1 2 ( b ) ( 6 ) , A l a . R. C i v . P. 
B e c a u s e M o o r i n g ' s 
m o t i o n 
a t t a c h e d s u p p o r t i n g d o c u m e n t s , 
i t was 
t r e a t e d 
as a 
m o t i o n f o r a summary j u d g m e n t p u r s u a n t t o R u l e 1 2 ( b ) .
1 
The 
H u n t e r s r e s p o n d e d t o M o o r i n g ' s m o t i o n on O c t o b e r 17, 2008, and 
s u p p o r t e d t h e i r r e s p o n s e w i t h an a f f i d a v i t and o t h e r e v i d e n c e . 
On November 
2, 
2008, 
w i t h o u t 
s t a t i n g 
t h e r e a s o n s 
f o r i t s 
d e c i s i o n , t h e t r i a l c o u r t g r a n t e d M o o r i n g ' s m o t i o n and e n t e r e d 
a summary j u d g m e n t a g a i n s t t h e H u n t e r s . 
The H u n t e r s a p p e a l e d . 
The 
e v i d e n c e 
p r e s e n t e d t o t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t 
showed 
t h e 
f o l l o w i n g 
f a c t s . 
On J u n e 6, 2002, t h e M o b i l e C o u n t y 
Revenue 
1 R u l e 1 2 ( b ) , A l a . R. C i v . P., 
s t a t e s , i n p a r t : 
" I f , 
on a m o t i o n a s s e r t i n g t h e d e f e n s e numbered ( 6 ) 
t o 
d i s m i s s f o r f a i l u r e 
o f t h e p l e a d i n g t o s t a t e a 
c l a i m 
upon 
w h i c h 
r e l i e f 
c a n be 
g r a n t e d , 
m a t t e r s 
o u t s i d e 
t h e 
p l e a d i n g 
a r e 
p r e s e n t e d 
t o 
and 
n o t 
e x c l u d e d by t h e c o u r t , t h e m o t i o n 
s h a l l be 
t r e a t e d 
as 
one 
f o r summary 
j u d g m e n t 
and 
d i s p o s e d o f 
as 
p r o v i d e d i n R u l e 56, and a l l 
p a r t i e s 
s h a l l be g i v e n 
r e a s o n a b l e o p p o r t u n i t y t o p r e s e n t a l l 
m a t e r i a l made 
p e r t i n e n t t o s u c h a m o t i o n by R u l e 5 6 . " 
2 
1080335 
C o m m i s s i o n e r ( " t h e C o m m i s s i o n e r " ) s o l d p r o p e r t y 
i d e n t i f i e d 
as 
" P a r c e l R 0 2 3 2 0 5 4 0 0 0 0 7 0 7 0 . 0 2 , Key # 1018437" 
( " P a r c e l 
70.02") 
t o 
F i r s t 
L i b e r t y N a t i o n a l Bank ( " F i r s t L i b e r t y " ) b e c a u s e t h e 
owner h a d f a i l e d t o p a y t a x e s on t h e p r o p e r t y . 
The t a x d e e d 
i d e n t i f i e d 
t h e owners as 
" N e a l , 
W i l l i e 
& 
E t h e l 
M.W." 
and 
s t a t e d 
t h e p a r c e l 
number, 
t h e k e y number, 
and a metes 
and 
b o u n d s 
d e s c r i p t i o n 
o f 
P a r c e l 
70.02. 
F i r s t 
L i b e r t y 
s u b s e q u e n t l y s o l d P a r c e l 70.02 t o M o o r i n g . 
The q u i t c l a i m d e e d 
r e f l e c t i n g 
t h a t 
s a l e 
i n c l u d e d 
t h e same 
p a r c e l 
number, 
k e y 
number, and metes and b o u n d s d e s c r i p t i o n as t h e t a x d e e d . I t 
i s 
u n c l e a r 
p r e c i s e l y when 
F i r s t 
L i b e r t y 
t r a n s f e r r e d 
P a r c e l 
70.02 t o M o o r i n g .
2 
I t 
i s u n d i s p u t e d 
t h a t , 
a t a l l 
t i m e s 
r e l e v a n t 
t o 
t h i s 
a c t i o n , t h e C o m m i s s i o n e r ' s r e c o r d s showed 
t h a t 
P a r c e l 
70.02 
was 
l o c a t e d 
a t 1119 Hannon Road i n M o b i l e . 
However, 
t h e 
C o m m i s s i o n e r ' s r e c o r d s a l s o showed t h a t p r o p e r t y 
i d e n t i f i e d as 
" P a r c e l R 0 2 3 2 0 5 4 0 0 0 0 7 0 7 0 " 
( " P a r c e l 
70") was owned b y H e r b e r t 
H u n t e r , J r . , 
and was l o c a t e d a t t h e same a d d r e s s . 
The 
r e c o r d 
2 T h e r e a r e two d a t e s on t h e q u i t c l a i m d e e d r e f l e c t i n g 
t h e 
t r a n s f e r 
o f 
p a r c e l 
70.02 
f r o m 
F i r s t 
L i b e r t y 
t o 
M o o r i n g : 
F e b r u a r y 10, 2006, and F e b r u a r y 10, 2005. 
The M o b i l e 
P r o b a t e 
C o u r t ' s stamp shows t h a t t h e d e e d was 
f i l e d i n M a r c h , b u t t h e 
day 
and y e a r a r e 
i l l e g i b l e . 
3 
1080335 
i n d i c a t e s 
t h a t 
P a r c e l 
70 
was 
a c t u a l l y 
l o c a t e d 
a t 
t h e 
1119 
Hannon 
Road 
a d d r e s s 
and 
t h a t 
t h e 
C o m m i s s i o n e r ' s 
r e c o r d 
r e g a r d i n g 
t h e 
l o c a t i o n o f P a r c e l 70.02 was 
m i s t a k e n .
3 
I t i s 
u n c l e a r f r o m t h e r e c o r d w h e t h e r P a r c e l 70 was owned by 
H e r b e r t 
H u n t e r , 
J r . , o r 
by 
R o s a H u n t e r , 
o r 
by 
b o t h 
j o i n t l y . 
I t 
i s 
a l s o u n c l e a r f r o m t h e r e c o r d who, 
i f a n y o n e , r e s i d e d on 
P a r c e l 
70. 
I n r e s p o n s e t o M o o r i n g ' s m o t i o n , t h e H u n t e r s p r e s e n t e d 
an 
a f f i d a v i t 
f r o m 
Norma 
H u n t e r , 
H e r b e r t ' s 
w i f e 
and 
R o s a ' s 
d a u g h t e r - i n - l a w , 
i n w h i c h Norma 
s t a t e d : 
"[W]e 
had 
... 
b e e n c o n t a c t e d 
by 
t e l e p h o n e 
s o m e t i m e 
d u r i n g 
2005, 
and 
someone 
had 
i n d i c a t e d 
t h a t 
o u r 
p r o p e r t y 
l o c a t e d 
a t 
1119 
Hannon 
Road 
i n 
M o b i l e , 
A l a b a m a , had b e e n p u r c h a s e d a t a t a x 
s a l e . 
I 
t o l d 
w h o e v e r was 
c a l l i n g 
t h e n , 
t h a t 
t h e r e must be 
some 
m i s t a k e 
b e c a u s e 
we 
had 
a l w a y s 
p a i d 
o u r 
p r o p e r t y 
t a x e s , 
and 
t h a t 
o u r 
p r o p e r t y 
had 
n o t 
e v e r 
b e e n 
f o r e c l o s e d on by 
a n y o n e . " 
( E m p h a s i s o m i t t e d . ) 
L a t e r 
i n h e r 
a f f i d a v i t , 
Norma 
i m p l i e d 
t h a t 
t h e 
"someone" 
she 
had 
s p o k e n 
w i t h 
was 
an 
e m p l o y e e 
o f 
M o o r i n g . 
The 
r e c o r d 
does 
n o t 
c o n t a i n 
any 
o t h e r 
e v i d e n c e 
i d e n t i f y i n g 
t o whom Norma s p o k e i n 2005. 
3An 
u n a u t h e n t i c a t e d 
map 
i n t h e 
r e c o r d seems t o show t h a t 
P a r c e l 70 
and 
P a r c e l 70.02 a r e a d j a c e n t t o one 
a n o t h e r . 
The 
r e c o r d d o e s n o t show a t what a d d r e s s P a r c e l 70.02 i s 
a c t u a l l y 
l o c a t e d . 
4 
1080335 
On J a n u a r y 16, 2006, b a s e d on t h e C o m m i s s i o n e r ' s 
r e c o r d s 
s h o w i n g 
t h a t 
P a r c e l 70.02 was 
l o c a t e d 
a t 
1119 
Hannon Road, 
M o o r i n g ' s 
r e g i o n a l 
manager, 
J e r e m y 
M a r t i n , 
w r o t e 
t o 
" O w n e r / O c c u p a n t , 
1119 
Hannon Road." 
I n 
t h e 
l e t t e r , 
M a r t i n 
e x p l a i n e d 
t h a t "1119 
Hannon Rd., 
M o b i l e , 
A L ; C o u n t y P a r c e l 
I D 
No. 
R 0 2 3 2 0 5 4 0 0 0 0 7 0 7 0 . 0 2 " had b e e n s o l d a t a t a x s a l e and 
t h a t 
M o o r i n g now 
owned t h e p r o p e r t y . 
On M o o r i n g ' s b e h a l f , 
M a r t i n 
demanded 
p o s s e s s i o n 
o f 
t h e 
p r o p e r t y 
and 
a d v i s e d 
t h e 
" O w n e r / O c c u p a n t " o f h i s o r h e r 
r i g h t s . 
I n h e r 
a f f i d a v i t , Norma s t a t e d t h a t she 
a s s i s t e d R o s a i n 
r e s p o n d i n g t o t h e J a n u a r y 16, 2006, l e t t e r . 
Norma s t a t e d t h a t 
she 
c o n t a c t e d 
M a r t i n by t e l e p h o n e , 
a d v i s e d 
him 
t h a t " t h e y 
had 
t h e w r o n g p r o p e r t y , " 
and 
gave him 
t h e 
p a r c e l number and 
k e y 
number o f " t h e p r o p e r t y . " 
Norma s t a t e d t h a t M a r t i n a s k e d 
h e r 
t o 
s e n d 
t h e 
p a r c e l 
and 
k e y 
numbers 
t o 
h i m 
v i a 
f a c s i m i l e 
t r a n s m i s s i o n 
and 
t h a t 
she 
d i d so 
on 
J a n u a r y 
23, 
2006. 
The 
r e c o r d i n c l u d e s a f a c s i m i l e t r a n s m i s s i o n c o v e r s h e e t a d d r e s s e d 
t o M a r t i n w i t h a h a n d w r i t t e n 
n o t e s t a t i n g s i m p l y : " P l s . c h e c k 
k e y 
# & 
c o u n t y 
p a r c e l 
I D 
#'s." 
The 
c o v e r 
s h e e t d o e s 
n o t 
i n d i c a t e w h e t h e r t h e f a c s i m i l e t r a n s m i s s i o n was 
a c t u a l l y s e n t 
5 
1080335 
o r 
r e c e i v e d .
4 
M o o r i n g d i d n o t s u b m i t any e v i d e n c e c o n f i r m i n g 
o r d e n y i n g Norma's t e s t i m o n y r e g a r d i n g t h o s e 
c o m m u n i c a t i o n s . 
S u b s e q u e n t l y , 
on 
November 
8, 
2006, 
t h r o u g h 
c o u n s e l , 
M o o r i n g 
w r o t e 
t o "Ms. 
R o s a H u n t e r " 
a t t h e 
1119 
Hannon Road 
a d d r e s s 
c o n c e r n i n g : 
" M o b i l e 
C o u n t y 
P a r c e l 
I . D . : 
R 0 2 3 2 0 5 4 0 0 0 0 7 0 7 0 . 0 2 , 
P r o p e r t y 
A d d r e s s : 
1119 
Hannon 
Rd., 
M o b i l e , AL." 
I n h e r a f f i d a v i t , Norma s t a t e d t h a t n e i t h e r 
s h e , 
R o s a , 
n o r 
H e r b e r t 
r e c e i v e d any 
c o m m u n i c a t i o n s 
f r o m 
M o o r i n g 
b e t w e e n 
t h e 
J a n u a r y 
16, 
2006, 
l e t t e r 
and 
t h e 
November 
8, 
2006, 
l e t t e r . 
The November 8, 2006, 
l e t t e r 
r e f e r e n c e d t h e 
J a n u a r y 
16, 
2006, 
l e t t e r 
and 
a d v i s e d R o s a 
t h a t M o o r i n g 
was 
g o i n g 
t o 
"move 
f o r w a r d 
w i t h 
o b t a i n i n g 
p o s s e s s i o n 
o f 
t h e 
p r o p e r t y . " 
The 
l e t t e r a d v i s e d R o s a t h a t i f she d i d n o t 
t a k e 
4 T h e c o v e r s h e e t a l s o d i d n o t i n d i c a t e how many, i f any, 
d o c u m e n t s were a t t a c h e d . 
However, t h e f o u r p a g e s 
f o l l o w i n g 
t h e c o v e r 
s h e e t 
i n t h e r e c o r d a r e a d e e d , a 
C o m m i s s i o n e r ' s 
r e c o r d , 
and 
t h e 
u n a u t h e n t i c a t e d map 
i d e n t i f i e d 
i n n o t e 
3, 
s u p r a . 
The d e e d shows a 2002 t r a n s f e r o f p r o p e r t y t o H e r b e r t 
H u n t e r , J r . ; 
i t i n c l u d e s o n l y a metes and b o u n d s 
d e s c r i p t i o n , 
b u t 
i t i d e n t i f i e s 
t h e a d d r e s s 
o f t h e g r a n t e e as 1119 
Hannon 
Road. 
The 
C o m m i s s i o n e r ' s 
r e c o r d s t a t e s 
t h a t 
P a r c e l 
70 
i s 
l o c a t e d 
a t 
1119 
Hannon Road 
and 
i d e n t i f i e s 
H e r b e r t 
as 
t h e 
owner. 
The map 
a p p e a r s 
t o have b e e n p r e p a r e d 
l a t e r , 
p e r h a p s 
by 
t h e 
H u n t e r s ' 
a t t o r n e y , b e c a u s e 
i t i n c l u d e s 
h a n d w r i t t e n 
n o t e s 
s t a t i n g : 
" c l i e n t ' s 
p r o p 
L o t 70; p r o p e r t y d e s c r i b e d i n 
comp. i s 7 0 . 0 2 . " 
P r e s u m a b l y , 
" c l i e n t " 
r e f e r s t o t h e 
H u n t e r s 
and "comp." r e f e r s 
t o M o o r i n g ' s 
c o m p l a i n t i n i t s a c t i o n 
t o 
q u i e t 
t i t l e . 
6 
1080335 
a c t i o n t o p u r c h a s e M o o r i n g ' s i n t e r e s t i n t h e p r o p e r t y , M o o r i n g 
w o u l d 
" t a k e a p p r o p r i a t e 
l e g a l 
a c t i o n t o o b t a i n 
p o s s e s s i o n . " 
Norma s t a t e d i n h e r 
a f f i d a v i t : 
" I p e r s o n a l l y c o n t a c t e d t h i s 
l a w f i r m , 
[ i . e . , M o o r i n g ' s c o u n s e l , ] 
f o r my m o t h e r - i n - l a w ... 
w i t h i n 
a week 
a f t e r we 
r e c e i v e d 
t h i s 
l e t t e r , 
and 
f u r n i s h e d 
them w i t h a l l 
o f t h e v e r y same i n f o r m a t i o n s h o w i n g them 
t h a t 
t h e Key # and C o u n t y P a r c e l # was 
d i f f e r e n t f r o m t h e one 
t h a t 
t h e y h a d . " 
Once a g a i n , M o o r i n g d i d n o t s u b m i t any e v i d e n c e 
c o n f i r m i n g 
o r 
d e n y i n g 
Norma's 
t e s t i m o n y 
as 
t o 
t h o s e 
c o m m u n i c a t i o n s . 
On 
J u l y 
20, 
2007, 
M o o r i n g 
s u e d 
R o s a 
and 
s e v e r a l 
f i c t i t i o u s l y 
named d e f e n d a n t s 
i n t h e M o b i l e 
C i r c u i t 
C o u r t 
( " t h e 
2007 
a c t i o n " ) . 
M o o r i n g 
s t a t e d 
i n 
i t s c o m p l a i n t : 
" D e f e n d a n t s 
o c c u p y , 
p o s s e s s , 
o r 
c l a i m 
an 
i n t e r e s t 
i n 
t h e 
p r o p e r t y l o c a t e d a t 1119 Hannon Road, M o b i l e , A l a b a m a ... , and 
more p a r t i c u l a r l y d e s c r i b e d " i n t h e 2002 t a x d e e d , w h i c h 
was 
a t t a c h e d . 
The 
c o m p l a i n t a l s o 
a t t a c h e d 
a c o p y 
o f t h e 2006 
q u i t c l a i m d e e d t o M o o r i n g . 
M o o r i n g s o u g h t t o e j e c t R o s a f r o m 
t h e p r o p e r t y u n d e r § 4 0 - 1 0 - 7 4 , A l a . Code 1975, 
and t o 
q u i e t 
t i t l e 
t o t h e p r o p e r t y . 
I n a s u b s e q u e n t 
p l e a d i n g , 
M o o r i n g 
s t a t e d 
t h a t 
R o s a 
was 
named 
as 
a 
d e f e n d a n t 
" [ b ] a s e d 
on 
i n f o r m a t i o n 
o b t a i n e d 
f r o m 
t h e 
... 
C o m m i s s i o n e r ' s 
o f f i c e 
7 
1080335 
i n d i c a t i n g 
t h a t 
R. 
H u n t e r 
r e s i d e d 
a t t h e 
a d d r e s s 
o f t h e 
p r o p e r t y . " 
I n 
h e r 
a n s w e r 
t o 
M o o r i n g ' s 
c o m p l a i n t , 
R o s a 
s t a t e d : 
" [ T ] t h e 
r e a l 
p r o p e r t y 
l o c a t e d 
a t 1119 Hannon Road, 
M o b i l e , 
A l a b a m a 
i s owned 
by 
H e r b e r t 
H u n t e r , 
J r . , and 
n o t 
t h e 
P l a i n t i f f . " 
She d i d n o t i n d i c a t e t h a t t h e p r o p e r t y 
a t 1119 
Hannon Road was d i f f e r e n t f r o m t h a t p r o p e r t y 
i n w h i c h M o o r i n g 
c l a i m e d 
an 
i n t e r e s t . 
I t 
i s 
u n d i s p u t e d 
t h a t 
M o o r i n g 
s u b s e q u e n t l y a d d e d H e r b e r t as a d e f e n d a n t i n i t s a c t i o n . 
The 
l i t i g a t i o n 
p r o g r e s s e d 
a n d , 
a p p a r e n t l y 
t h r o u g h 
t h e 
d i s c o v e r y 
p r o c e s s 
and 
i t s 
own 
i n v e s t i g a t i o n , 
M o o r i n g 
d i s c o v e r e d 
t h a t 
R o s a 
and 
H e r b e r t 
d i d n o t 
i n f a c t 
own 
an 
i n t e r e s t i n P a r c e l 70.02. 
I t i s u n d i s p u t e d t h a t M o o r i n g t h e n 
moved t o d i s m i s s 
i t s a c t i o n 
a g a i n s t 
R o s a and H e r b e r t . 
The 
t r i a l 
c o u r t d i d s o , w i t h p r e j u d i c e , on M a r c h 4, 2008. 
I n 
h e r 
a f f i d a v i t , 
Norma 
s t a t e d 
t h a t , 
b e f o r e 
M o o r i n g 
commenced t h e 2007 
a c t i o n , 
she had 
a d v i s e d 
M o o r i n g 
o r i t s 
a g e n t s a t l e a s t t h r e e 
t i m e s t h a t 
" t h e y were w r o n g and had t o 
have t h e w r o n g p i e c e o f p r o p e r t y . " 
She 
t e s t i f i e d : 
"They were 
g i v e n 
t h e i n f o r m a t i o n 
a n d / o r 
d o c u m e n t s 
c o n f i r m i n g 
t h a t t h e K e y # and C o u n t y P a r c e l # o f o u r 
p r o p e r t y was d i f f e r e n t . 
T h e r e i s a b s o l u t e l y no way 
t h a t t h e y c o u l d c l a i m t h a t t h i s was j u s t an i n n o c e n t 
' m i s t a k e ' 
on 
t h e i r 
p a r t , 
b e c a u s e I had 
p e r s o n a l l y 
8 
1080335 
g i v e n 
them t h e 
c o r r e c t 
i n f o r m a t i o n 
t o 
c o n f i r m 
t h a t 
o u r 
p r o p e r t y 
was 
d i f f e r e n t a number o f 
t i m e s . 
... 
T h a t i s why 
t h e 
l a w s u i t 
t h a t 
was 
f i l e d 
on 
J u l y 
20, 
2007, 
... 
had 
t o 
be 
m a l i c i o u s , 
and 
n o t 
j u s t some 
i n n o c e n t 
m i s t a k e . " 
Norma t h e n 
s t a t e d 
t h a t R o s a and 
H e r b e r t 
had 
s u f f e r e d 
s t r e s s 
and 
e m o t i o n a l p r o b l e m s as 
a r e s u l t o f 
t h e 2007 a c t i o n , 
t h a t 
t h e y had 
i n c u r r e d l e g a l f e e s i n d e f e n d i n g t h e a c t i o n , and 
t h a t 
M o o r i n g 
" s h o u l d 
be 
p u n i s h e d 
and 
p r e v e n t e d f r o m d o i n g 
t h i n g s 
l i k e 
t h i s 
t o 
o t h e r s . " 
A n a l y s i s 
"Our 
r e v i e w o f a summary j u d g m e n t i s de n o v o . 
'A 
m o t i o n f o r summary j u d g m e n t i s g r a n t e d o n l y when 
t h e 
e v i d e n c e 
d e m o n s t r a t e s 
t h a t 
" t h e r e 
i s 
no 
g e n u i n e 
i s s u e 
as 
t o 
any 
m a t e r i a l 
f a c t and 
t h a t 
t h e 
m o v i n g 
p a r t y i s e n t i t l e d t o a j u d g m e n t as a m a t t e r o f 
l a w . " 
R u l e 
5 6 ( c ) , 
A l a . 
R. 
C i v . 
P.' 
R e i c h e r t 
v. 
C i t y 
o f 
 
M o b i l e , 
776 
So. 
2d 
761, 
764 
( A l a . 2 0 0 0 ) . 
We 
a p p l y 
' t h e 
same 
s t a n d a r d 
as 
t h a t 
o f 
t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t 
i n 
d e t e r m i n i n g 
w h e t h e r 
t h e 
e v i d e n c e 
b e f o r e 
t h e 
c o u r t 
made o u t 
a g e n u i n e 
i s s u e 
o f m a t e r i a l 
f a c t . ' 
B u s s e y  
v. J o h n D e e r e Co., 
531 
So. 
2d 
860, 
862 
( A l a . 1 9 8 8 ) ; 
S y s t e m D y n a m i c s 
I n t ' l , 
I n c . 
v. 
B o y k i n , 
683 
So. 
2d 
419, 
420 
( A l a . 1 9 9 6 ) . I n o r d e r 
t o d e f e a t 
a 
p r o p e r l y 
s u p p o r t e d 
m o t i o n 
f o r 
a 
summary 
j u d g m e n t , 
t h e 
n o n m o v i n g 
p a r t y 
must p r e s e n t 
s u b s t a n t i a l 
e v i d e n c e 
t h a t 
c r e a t e s 
a 
g e n u i n e 
i s s u e 
o f 
m a t e r i a l 
f a c t . 
' S u b s t a n t i a l e v i d e n c e ' 
i s ' e v i d e n c e 
o f s u c h w e i g h t 
and q u a l i t y t h a t f a i r - m i n d e d p e r s o n s i n t h e 
e x e r c i s e 
o f 
i m p a r t i a l 
j u d g m e n t 
can 
r e a s o n a b l y 
i n f e r 
t h e 
e x i s t e n c e 
o f t h e f a c t s o u g h t t o be p r o v e d . ' 
West v.  
F o u n d e r s 
L i f e A s s u r a n c e 
Co. 
o f 
F l o r i d a , 547 
So. 
2d 
870, 
871 
( A l a . 1 9 8 9 ) . " 
B o r d e r s v. C i t y o f H u n t s v i l l e , 875 
So. 
2d 1168, 
1776-77 
( A l a . 
9 
1080335 
2 0 0 3 ) . 
T h i s 
C o u r t 
has 
e x p l a i n e d t h e 
e l e m e n t s 
o f 
a m a l i c i o u s -
p r o s e c u t i o n c l a i m as 
f o l l o w s : 
" I n o r d e r f o r a c l a i m o f m a l i c i o u s p r o s e c u t i o n 
t o 
be 
s u b m i t t e d 
t o 
a 
j u r y , 
t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t must 
d e t e r m i n e 
t h a t 
t h e 
p l a i n t i f f 
has 
p r e s e n t e d 
s u b s t a n t i a l e v i d e n c e o f t h e f o l l o w i n g e l e m e n t s : 
(1) 
t h a t a p r i o r 
j u d i c i a l p r o c e e d i n g was 
i n s t i t u t e d 
by 
t h e 
p r e s e n t 
d e f e n d a n t , 
(2) 
t h a t 
i n 
t h e 
p r i o r 
p r o c e e d i n g 
t h e 
p r e s e n t 
d e f e n d a n t 
a c t e d 
w i t h o u t 
p r o b a b l e c a u s e and w i t h m a l i c e , 
(3) t h a t t h e 
p r i o r 
p r o c e e d i n g e n d e d i n f a v o r o f t h e p r e s e n t 
p l a i n t i f f , 
and 
(4) t h a t t h e p r e s e n t 
p l a i n t i f f was damaged as a 
r e s u l t o f t h e p r i o r 
p r o c e e d i n g . " 
D e l c h a m p s , I n c . v. B r y a n t , 738 So. 2d 824, 831-32 ( A l a . 1 9 9 9 ) . 
M a l i c i o u s - p r o s e c u t i o n 
a c t i o n s a r e 
" d i s f a v o r e d i n t h e 
l a w . " 
738 
So. 2d a t 
832. 
I t 
i s u n d i s p u t e d 
t h a t 
t h e 
H u n t e r s 
have 
s a t i s f i e d 
t h e 
f i r s t and t h i r d e l e m e n t s o f t h e i r m a l i c i o u s - p r o s e c u t i o n c l a i m . 
R e g a r d i n g t h e f o u r t h e l e m e n t , 
a l t h o u g h M o o r i n g 
i m p l i e s i n i t s 
b r i e f 
on 
a p p e a l 
t h a t 
t h e 
H u n t e r s 
s u f f e r e d 
no 
r e a l 
damage 
b e c a u s e t h e 2007 a c t i o n was 
u l t i m a t e l y d i s m i s s e d , t h e 
H u n t e r s , 
t h r o u g h 
Norma's 
a f f i d a v i t , 
d e s c r i b e d 
s u f f i c i e n t 
i n j u r y 
t o 
c r e a t e 
a 
j u r y 
q u e s t i o n . 
T h e r e f o r e , 
t h e 
p a r t i e s ' 
p r i m a r y 
d i s p u t e on a p p e a l 
i s w h e t h e r M o o r i n g 
a c t e d w i t h o u t 
p r o b a b l e 
10 
1080335 
c a u s e and 
w i t h m a l i c e 
i n f i l i n g 
t h e 2007 a c t i o n .
5 
R e g a r d i n g p r o b a b l e 
c a u s e , i n a c a s e i n v o l v i n g m a l i c i o u s 
p r o s e c u t i o n , 
t h i s C o u r t has 
s t a t e d : 
" I n m a l i c i o u s p r o s e c u t i o n c a s e s , 
' p r o b a b l e 
c a u s e ' i s 
d e f i n e d as ' s u c h a s t a t e o f f a c t s i n t h e m i n d o f 
t h e 
p r o s e c u t o r 
as w o u l d l e a d a man 
o f o r d i n a r y 
c a u t i o n 
and p r u d e n c e t o b e l i e v e o r e n t e r t a i n an h o n e s t 
and 
s t r o n g 
s u s p i c i o n 
t h a t 
t h e 
p e r s o n 
a r r e s t e d 
i s 
g u i l t y . ' 
D e l c h a m p s , I n c . v. M o r g a n , 601 
So. 
2d 
442, 
445 
( A l a . 1992) 
( c i t a t i o n o m i t t e d 
[ i n G o o d m a n ] ) . " 
W a l - M a r t S t o r e s , 
I n c . v. Goodman, 789 
So. 
2d 
166, 
174 
( A l a . 
2 0 0 0 ) . 
"Thus, t h e 
d e t e r m i n a t i o n 
o f p r o b a b l e 
c a u s e does 
n o t 
h i n g e upon w h e t h e r [ t h e H u n t e r s ] i n f a c t [owned P a r c e l 7 0 . 0 2 ] , 
b u t 
w h e t h e r 
[ M o o r i n g ' s ] 
s u b j e c t i v e 
b e l i e f 
u n d e r 
t h e 
c i r c u m s t a n c e s 
l e d 
[ i t ] t o b e l i e v e t h a t 
[ t h e y d i d ] . " 
I d . 
The 
H u n t e r s 
t u r n 
o u r 
a t t e n t i o n t o 
t h e 
f a c s i m i l e 
c o v e r 
s h e e t s e n t 
t o M a r t i n by Norma and 
t o Norma's s t a t e m e n t 
t h a t 
she 
a d v i s e d 
M o o r i n g 
m u l t i p l e 
t i m e s 
t h a t 
i t "had 
t h e 
w r o n g 
p r o p e r t y " 
and 
p r o v i d e d 
i t w i t h 
t h e 
p a r c e l 
i d e n t i f i c a t i o n 
5 T h e p a r t i e s do 
n o t 
d i s p u t e 
t h a t M o o r i n g 
d i s m i s s e d 
t h e 
2007 
a c t i o n 
when 
i t 
d i s c o v e r e d 
t h e 
m i s t a k e 
i n 
t h e 
C o m m i s s i o n e r ' s r e c o r d s . 
T h e r e f o r e , M o o r i n g ' s c o n d u c t a t i s s u e 
on a p p e a l 
r e l a t e s t o i t s f i l i n g o f t h e 2007 a c t i o n , n o t t o 
any 
c o n t i n u a n c e 
o f 
t h e 
a c t i o n 
a f t e r 
d i s c o v e r y 
o f 
t h e 
m i s t a k e . 
See, 
e.g., 
L a n e y v. 
G l i d d e n 
Co., 
239 
A l a . 396, 
399, 
194 
So. 
849, 
851 
(1940) 
("A 
s u i t 
f o r m a l i c i o u s p r o s e c u t i o n 
may l i e , 
n o t o n l y f o r t h e commencement o f t h e 
o r i g i n a l p r o c e e d i n g , 
b u t 
f o r 
i t s c o n t i n u a n c e 
as 
w e l l . " ) . 
11 
1080335 
number f o r P a r c e l 70. 
M o o r i n g 
r e l i e s on t h e C o m m i s s i o n e r ' s 
r e c o r d s , 
w h i c h showed t h a t 
P a r c e l 70.02 was l o c a t e d a t 1119 
Hannon Road. 
M o o r i n g a l s o n o t e s t h e v a g u e n a t u r e o f many o f 
t h e s t a t e m e n t s i n Norma's a f f i d a v i t and d i r e c t s a t t e n t i o n t o 
R o s a ' s a n s w e r t o i t s 2007 c o m p l a i n t i n w h i c h she s t a t e d 
o n l y 
t h a t 
H e r b e r t , 
n o t s h e , owned t h e p r o p e r t y 
l o c a t e d a t 1119 
Hannon Road. 
I n W a l - M a r t 
S t o r e s , 
I n c . 
v. Goodman, s u p r a , 
a W a l - M a r t 
e m p l o y e e , M i l n e r , a c c u s e d Goodman o f s h o p l i f t i n g and h a d h e r 
a r r e s t e d . 
A t t h e t i m e o f h e r a r r e s t , Goodman h a d i n h e r 
p o s s e s s i o n 
a r e c e i p t s h o w i n g t h a t she h a d p u r c h a s e d t h e i t e m 
she was a c c u s e d o f s h o p l i f t i n g - - a t e l e p h o n e . Goodman 
t e s t i f i e d 
t h a t 
she p r e s e n t e d 
t h e 
r e c e i p t 
t o 
M i l n e r , 
b u t she was 
n o n e t h e l e s s 
a r r e s t e d . 
M i l n e r 
t e s t i f i e d 
t h a t 
she "gave no 
c r e d e n c e t o t h e r e c e i p t " b e c a u s e she h a d o b s e r v e d Goodman i n 
t h e a c t o f s h o p l i f t i n g . 
The c a u s e was s u b m i t t e d t o a j u r y , 
w h i c h r e t u r n e d 
a v e r d i c t i n Goodman's f a v o r a n d a w a r d e d h e r 
c o m p e n s a t o r y and p u n i t i v e damages. 
789 So. 2d a t 170-72. 
I n 
c o n s i d e r i n g 
w h e t h e r t h e t r i a l 
c o u r t 
e r r e d 
i n d e n y i n g W a l -
M a r t ' s p o s t j u d g m e n t m o t i o n f o r 
a j u d g m e n t as a m a t t e r o f 
l a w , 
t h i s C o u r t 
e x p l a i n e d : 
"Goodman's 
v e r s i o n 
o f t h e e v e n t 
p r e s e n t e d a 
j u r y 
12 
1080335 
q u e s t i o n as t o w h e t h e r a r e a s o n a b l y p r u d e n t 
p e r s o n 
a c t i n g i n g o o d f a i t h w o u l d have made f u r t h e r 
i n q u i r y 
b e f o r e 
p r o s e c u t i n g . 
Dean 
P r o s s e r 
w r o t e , 
on 
d e t e r m i n i n g 
r e a s o n a b l e n e s s : 
"'The 
a p p e a r a n c e s 
must be s u c h as t o l e a d 
a 
r e a s o n a b l e 
man 
t o s e t t h e 
c r i m i n a l 
p r o c e e d i n g s i n 
m o t i o n . The d e f e n d a n t i s n o t 
n e c e s s a r i l y 
r e q u i r e d 
t o 
v e r i f y 
h i s 
i n f o r m a t i o n 
where 
i t 
a p p e a r s 
t o 
be 
r e l i a b l e ; b u t where a r e a s o n a b l e man w o u l d 
i n v e s t i g a t e 
f u r t h e r 
b e f o r e 
b e g i n n i n g t h e 
p r o s e c u t i o n , he may be l i a b l e f o r f a i l u r e 
t o do s o . ... ' 
" W i l l i a m L. P r o s s e r , Law o f T o r t s , § 119 a t 842 
( 4 t h 
e d . 1971) ( q u o t e d i n A t l a n t i c Z a y r e , I n c . 
v. Meeks, 
194 
Ga. App. 2 
67 
, 390 S.E.2d 
398 
(1 
990) 
( u s i n g 
P r o s s e r , Law o f T o r t s , § 119, as a b a s i s f o r i t s 
r a t i o n a l e t h a t a s t o r e s e c u r i t y g u a r d c o u l d be f o u n d 
t o have a c t e d u n r e a s o n a b l y i n a r r e s t i n g a 
c u s t o m e r : 
t h e c u s t o m e r h a d o f f e r e d 
' o v e r and o v e r t o g i v e an 
e x p l a n a t i o n and t o f e t c h 
[ h i s ] r e c e i p t s 
[ f r o m h i s 
c a r ] , 
b u t was n o t p e r m i t t e d 
t o . ' ) . 
We 
f i n d t h e 
r e a s o n i n g 
o f 
t h e 
C o u r t 
o f 
A p p e a l s 
o f 
G e o r g i a 
p e r s u a s i v e u n d e r t h e c i r c u m s t a n c e s p r e s e n t e d b y t h i s 
c a s e . 
"The 
r e c o r d r e f l e c t s t h a t Goodman, a t t h e t i m e 
o f t h e a p p r e h e n s i o n , 
p r e s e n t e d t o M i l n e r a 
r e c e i p t 
t h a t 
m a t c h e d t h e p r o d u c t 
code o f t h e 
m e r c h a n d i s e 
Goodman 
h a d 
a l l e g e d l y 
c o n c e a l e d . 
A l t h o u g h 
t h e 
r e c e i p t was d a t e d s e v e n d a y s b e f o r e t h e d a t e o f t h e 
a p p r e h e n s i o n , 
M i l n e r made no e f f o r t t o v e r i f y i t s 
l e g i t i m a c y . B e f o r e 
c a l l i n g t h e p o l i c e , she d i d 
n o t 
c o n f i r m 
w i t h 
t h e c u s t o m e r - s e r v i c e - d e s k 
e m p l o y e e s 
w h e t h e r Goodman h a d , i n f a c t , a t t e m p t e d t o e x c h a n g e 
t h e 
t e l e p h o n e ; n o r d i d she c o n f i r m w i t h t h e s t o r e 
g r e e t e r w h e t h e r Goodman h a d e n t e r e d t h e s t o r e w i t h 
t h e 
t e l e p h o n e . 
T h e r e f o r e , t h e q u e s t i o n w h e t h e r a 
r e a s o n a b l e 
p e r s o n 
a c t i n g i n g o o d 
f a i t h 
w o u l d 
h a v e 
i n v e s t i g a t e d t h e s i t u a t i o n f u r t h e r b e f o r e p r o c e e d i n g 
w i t h 
t h e 
a r r e s t 
was 
d i s p u t e d ; 
t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t 
13 
1080335 
c o r r e c t l y 
a l l o w e d t h e 
j u r y 
t o d e c i d e t h e 
i s s u e 
o f 
p r o b a b l e 
c a u s e . " 
789 
So. 2d a t 174-75. 
S i m i l a r l y , 
i n 
t h i s 
c a s e , 
t h e 
q u e s t i o n 
w h e t h e r 
a 
r e a s o n a b l e p e r s o n a c t i n g i n g o o d f a i t h w o u l d have i n v e s t i g a t e d 
t h e s i t u a t i o n 
f u r t h e r b e f o r e p r o c e e d i n g w i t h t h e 2007 
a c t i o n 
was d i s p u t e d . 
The H u n t e r s p r e s e n t e d e v i d e n c e i n d i c a t i n g 
t h a t 
t h e y c o m m u n i c a t e d w i t h M o o r i n g i n e a r l y 2006, d e n i e d t h a t t h e 
p r o p e r t y a t 1119 Hannon Road had b e e n s o l d i n a t a x s a l e , 
and 
p r o v i d e d M o o r i n g w i t h a p a r c e l 
i d e n t i f i c a t i o n number f o r t h e 
p r o p e r t y l o c a t e d a t 1119 Hannon Road, P a r c e l 70. 
M o o r i n g d i d 
n o t 
p r e s e n t 
e v i d e n c e 
s h o w i n g 
t h a t 
i t t o o k 
any 
s t e p s 
i n 
r e s p o n s e t o t h i s i n f o r m a t i o n , s u c h as i n q u i r i n g f u r t h e r o f t h e 
H u n t e r s , 
p e r f o r m i n g 
a 
t i t l e 
s e a r c h 
o f 
P a r c e l 
7 0 . 0 2 , 
o r 
c o n f r o n t i n g t h e C o m m i s s i o n e r 
w i t h t h e c o n f l i c t i n g 
i n f o r m a t i o n . 
S u c h e v i d e n c e may 
u l t i m a t e l y be s u b m i t t e d a t t r i a l , and a j u r y 
may 
c o n c l u d e 
t h a t 
M o o r i n g 
i n 
f a c t 
had 
p r o b a b l e 
c a u s e 
t o 
i n i t i a t e t h e 2007 a c t i o n ; h o w e v e r , t h e H u n t e r s h a v e p r e s e n t e d 
s u f f i c i e n t e v i d e n c e o f a l a c k o f p r o b a b l e c a u s e t o s u b m i t 
t h e 
q u e s t i o n t o t h e 
j u r y . 
E v e n 
s o , 
t h e 
H u n t e r s 
must 
a l s o 
p r e s e n t 
s u b s t a n t i a l 
e v i d e n c e 
i n d i c a t i n g t h a t M o o r i n g 
a c t e d w i t h m a l i c e . 
B r y a n t , 
14 
1080335 
738 
So. 
2d 
a t 
832 
("[W]hen p r o b a b l e 
c a u s e 
i s shown 
t o 
be 
l a c k i n g , m a l i c e 
i s e s s e n t i a l t o r e c o v e r y . " ) ; 
see a l s o 
W i l l i s  
v. 
P a r k e r , 
814 
So. 
2d 
857, 
864 
( A l a . 2001) 
( " [ I ] n o r d e r 
f o r 
P a r k e r t o s u c c e e d on h i s m a l i c i o u s p r o s e c u t i o n c l a i m , he must 
h a v e p r o v e d t h a t W i l l i s p u r s u e d t h e 
f i r s t e v i c t i o n a c t i o n b o t h 
w i t h 
a 
l a c k 
o f 
p r o b a b l e 
c a u s e 
and 
w i t h 
t h e 
p r e s e n c e 
o f 
m a l i c e . " ) . 
T h i s 
C o u r t 
has 
e x p l a i n e d : 
" M a l i c e 
i n 
[a 
m a l i c i o u s -
p r o s e c t u i o n ] 
a c t i o n 
i m p l i e s 
t h e 
i n t e n t i o n a l 
d o i n g 
o f 
a 
w r o n g f u l 
a c t t o t h e 
i n j u r y o f a n o t h e r . " 
H u f f s t u t l e r v. Edge, 
254 A l a . 102, 
104, 
47 So. 2d 197, 
199 
( 1 9 5 0 ) . 
However, 
m a l i c e 
d o e s n o t 
r e q u i r e " e v i d e n c e o f a d e s i r e t o 
i n j u r e . " 
B r y a n t , 
738 
So. 
2d a t 833 
( c i t i n g L u n s f o r d 
v. 
D i e t r i c h , 
93 A l a . 
565, 
569, 
9 So. 
308, 
310 
( 1 8 9 1 ) ) . 
" M a l i c e 
i n a m a l i c i o u s p r o s e c u t i o n 
a c t i o n has 
b e e n 
d e f i n e d as w h a t e v e r i s done w i l l f u l l y and 
p u r p o s e l y , 
w h e t h e r 
t h e 
m o t i v e 
i s t o 
i n j u r [ e 
t h e ] 
a c c u s e d , 
t o 
g a i n some a d v a n t a g e 
t o 
t h e 
p r o s e c u t o r , 
o r 
t h r o u g h 
mere w a n t o n n e s s o r c a r e l e s s n e s s , i f a t t h e same t i m e 
wrong 
and 
u n l a w f u l 
w i t h i n 
t h e 
k n o w l e d g e 
o f 
t h e 
a c t o r . 
G u l s b y v. L o u i s v i l l e & N a s h v i l l e RR Co., 
167 
A l a . 
122, 
52 
So. 
392 
[ ( 1 9 1 0 ) ] . " 
D i l l o n v. N i x , 55 A l a . App. 
611, 
613-14, 318 
So. 
2d 308, 
310 
( A l a . C i v . App. 
1 9 7 5 ) ; see 
a l s o W i l l i s , 
814 
So. 
2d a t 863-64 
( q u o t i n g 
D i l l o n ) . 
T h i s C o u r t has more f u l l y 
e x p l a i n e d : 
15 
1080335 
" ' T h e r e n e e d be no p e r s o n a l i
l
l 
w i l l , 
h a t e , 
d e s i r e 
f o r 
r e v e n g e , 
o r 
o t h e r 
b a s e 
and 
m a l i g n a n t 
p a s s i o n . 
W h a t e v e r 
i s 
done 
w i l l f u l l y and p u r p o s e l y , w h e t h e r t h e m o t i v e 
be 
t o 
i n j u r e 
t h e 
a c c u s e d , 
t o 
g a i n 
some 
a d v a n t a g e 
t o 
t h e 
p r o s e c u t o r , 
o r 
t h r o u g h 
mere w a n t o n n e s s o r c a r e l e s s n e s s , i f i t be  
a t 
t h e same t i m e w r o n g and u n l a w f u l w i t h i n  
t h e 
k n o w l e d g e 
o f 
t h e 
a c t o r , 
i s i n 
l e g a l 
c o n t e m p l a t i o n 
m a l i c i o u s l y d o n e . ' 
" [ L u n s f o r d v. D i e t r i c h , 
93 A l a . 565, 
569, 
9 So. 
308, 
310 
( 1 8 9 1 ) ] 
( e m p h a s i s a d d e d ) . T h i s s t a n d a r d 
s u g g e s t s 
t h e l o w t h r e s h o l d f o r p r o o f o f m a l i c e , by 
i n c l u d i n g 
i n 
t h e 
l i t a n y 
o f 
p r e d i c a t e s 
' w a n t o n n e s s 
o r 
c a r e l e s s n e s s ' 
( e m p h a s i s 
a d d e d ) . 
I t 
a l s o 
i s 
t i e d , 
h o w e v e r , t o c i r c u m s t a n c e s 
where t h e c o n d u c t i s 
' a t 
t h e 
same 
t i m e 
wrong 
and 
u n l a w f u l 
w i t h i n 
t h e 
k n o w l e d g e 
o f 
t h e 
a c t o r . ' I d . A l a b a m a 
P a t t e r n 
J u r y  
I n s t r u c t i o n s : 
C i v i l 
(2d 
e d . 
1993) 
( ' A P J I ' ) , 
I n s t r u c t i o n 
24.04, 
p r e s e r v e s 
t h e 
c o n c e p t 
t h a t 
r e c k l e s s n e s s , 
s t a n d i n g a l o n e , 
i s n o t 
s u f f i c i e n t 
t o 
a l l o w 
r e c o v e r y : 
" ' M a l i c e 
may 
be 
i n f e r r e d 
by 
t h e 
r e c k l e s s 
i n s t i t u t i o n 
o f 
a 
c r i m i n a l 
p r o s e c u t i o n w i t h o u t i n f o r m a t i o n l e a d i n g t o 
- b o n a - f i d e 
b e l i e f t h a t t h e p e r s o n 
c h a r g e d 
s g u i l t y as 
c l a i m e d . ' 
a 
was 
" ( E m p h a s i s added.) 
... 
" S i m p l e 
n e g l i g e n c e 
a l o n e , 
t h e r e f o r e , 
may 
u n d e r l i e 
a d e c i s i o n t o 
i n s t i t u t e 
a p r o c e e d i n g 
t h a t 
l a t e r 
i s shown 
t o 
s u f f e r 
f r o m 
a want 
o f 
p r o b a b l e 
c a u s e , 
b u t 
an 
i n f e r e n c e o f m a l i c e 
c a n n o t be 
drawn 
s o l e l y f r o m s u c h n e g l i g e n c e , b e c a u s e t h e g o o d 
f a i t h 
o f t h e a c t o r u n d e r s u c h c i r c u m s t a n c e s 
c a n c o n s t i t u t e 
a d e f e n s e . 
T h i s C o u r t , c o n s i s t e n t w i t h t h e f o r e g o i n g 
a n a l y s i s 
o f 
t h e 
r e q u i r e m e n t 
o f p r o o f 
o f more 
t h a n 
s i m p l e 
n e g l i g e n c e 
i n 
a c t i o n s 
a l l e g i n g 
m a l i c i o u s 
16 
1080335 
p r o s e c u t i o n , has 
d e c l i n e d t o p e r m i t 
a c t i o n s 
a g a i n s t 
m u n i c i p a l i t i e s 
a l l e g i n g 
m a l i c i o u s 
p r o s e c u t i o n 
b e c a u s e t h e 
l i a b i l i t y 
i s n o t w i t h i n t h e 
t r a d i t i o n a l 
c a t e g o r i e s 
o f 
' n e g l e c t , 
c a r e l e s s n e s s 
o r 
u n s k i l l f u l n e s s ' 
a p p r o p r i a t e 
f o r 
s u c h 
a c t i o n s . 
See 
S c o t t v. C i t y o f M o u n t a i n B r o o k , 602 
So. 
2d 893, 
894 
( A l a . 
1 9 9 2 ) . Were i t o t h e r w i s e , 
t h e 
t o r t 
w o u l d 
be 
c a l l e d 
' n e g l i g e n t p r o s e c u t i o n . ' 
B a h a k e l v. 
C i t y 
o f 
 
B i r m i n g h a m , 427 
So. 
2d 143 
( A l a . 1 9 8 3 ) , o v e r r u l e d 
on 
 
o t h e r 
g r o u n d s , F r a n k l i n v. 
C i t y 
o f H u n t s v i l l e , 
670 
So. 
2d 
848 
( A l a . 1 9 9 5 ) . " 
B r y a n t , 
738 
So. 
2d a t 833-34. 
I n Goodman, 789 
So. 
2d a t 
174, 
t h i s C o u r t 
e x p l a i n e d : 
" M a l i c e 
i s an 
i n f e r e n c e o f 
f a c t , 
and 
i t may 
be 
i n f e r r e d f r o m a l a c k o f p r o b a b l e 
c a u s e o r f r o m mere 
w a n t o n n e s s o r c a r e l e s s n e s s 
i f t h e a c t o r , when 
d o i n g 
t h e 
a c t , knows i t t o be w r o n g o r u n l a w f u l . 
B r y a n t , 
738 
So. 
2d a t 833. 
P e r s o n a l 
i
l
l w i l l 
o r a d e s i r e f o r 
r e v e n g e 
i s n o t 
e s s e n t i a l f o r a 
f i n d i n g 
o f 
m a l i c e . 
D e l c h a m p s , 
I n c . 
v. 
L a r r y , 
613 
So. 
2d 
1235, 
1239 
( A l a . 
1 9 9 2 ) . However, an 
i n f e r e n c e 
o f m a l i c e 
drawn 
f r o m t h e 
l a c k o f p r o b a b l e 
c a u s e may 
be 
r e b u t t e d 
by 
e v i d e n c e 
s h o w i n g 
t h a t 
t h e 
d e f e n d a n t 
a c t e d 
i n g o o d 
f a i t h . 
B r y a n t , 
738 
So. 
2d a t 
832." 
A p p l y i n g 
t h e s e 
p r i n c i p l e s 
t o t h e 
f a c t s o f 
t h i s 
c a s e , 
we 
c o n c l u d e t h a t M o o r i n g was 
c e r t a i n l y m i s t a k e n t o t h e p o i n t 
o f 
n e g l i g e n c e 
i n f i l i n g t h e 2007 a c t i o n a g a i n s t R o s a and i n 
l a t e r 
a d d i n g 
H e r b e r t 
as 
a 
d e f e n d a n t . 
M o o r i n g 
r e m i n d s 
us 
t h a t 
n o t h i n g 
i n t h e r e c o r d shows t h a t M o o r i n g had a c t u a l k n o w l e d g e 
t h a t 
t h e 
H u n t e r s 
d i d 
n o t 
own 
an 
i n t e r e s t 
i n P a r c e l 
7 0 . 0 2 . 
However, see Hamme v. CSX 
T r a n s p . , I n c . , 
621 
So. 
2d 281, 
283 
( A l a . 
1 9 9 3 ) , 
s t a t i n g 
t h a t 
t o show w a n t o n n e s s 
" [ t ] h e 
a c t o r ' s 
17 
1080335 
k n o w l e d g e may 
be 
p r o v e d by 
s h o w i n g c i r c u m s t a n c e s 
f r o m 
w h i c h 
t h e 
f a c t 
o f 
k n o w l e d g e 
i s 
a 
r e a s o n a b l e 
i n f e r e n c e . " 
As 
p r e v i o u s l y 
n o t e d , 
Norma 
t e s t i f i e d 
t h a t 
she 
c o n t a c t e d 
a 
r e p r e s e n t a t i v e o f M o o r i n g by t e l e p h o n e , 
a d v i s e d h i m t h a t 
" t h e y 
had 
t h e wrong p r o p e r t y , " 
and gave h i m 
t h e p a r c e l number 
and 
key 
number 
o f 
" t h e 
p r o p e r t y . " 
Norma 
s t a t e d 
t h a t 
t h e 
r e p r e s e n t a t i v e a s k e d h e r t o s e n d t h e p a r c e l and key numbers t o 
h i m v i a f a c s i m i l e t r a n s m i s s i o n and 
t h a t she d i d so on 
J a n u a r y 
23, 
2006. 
A 
j u r y 
c o u l d 
c o n c l u d e 
t h a t 
t h e 
i n f o r m a t i o n 
p r e s e n t e d 
by Norma e a r l y i n 2006 was 
so i n c o n s i s t e n t w i t h 
t h e 
v i e w t h a t t h e C o m m i s s i o n e r ' s r e c o r d s 
on w h i c h M o o r i n g 
r e l i e d 
were 
a c c u r a t e 
t h a t 
f a i l u r e 
t o 
s e e k 
v e r i f i c a t i o n 
f r o m 
t h e 
C o m m i s s i o n e r ' s o f f i c e d e p r i v e d M o o r i n g o f t h e b a s i s f o r a b o n a 
f i d e 
b e l i e f 
i n t h e 
a c c u r a c y 
o f t h o s e 
r e c o r d s 
a t t h e t i m e i t 
commenced t h e 2007 a c t i o n . 
A c c o r d i n g l y , a j u r y c o u l d c o n c l u d e 
t h a t M o o r i n g a c t e d w i t h w a n t o n n e s s and c a r e l e s s n e s s 
s u f f i c i e n t 
t o s u p p o r t 
a f i n d i n g o f m a l i c e 
i n t h e c o n t e x t 
o f a m a l i c i o u s -
p r o s e c u t i o n 
a c t i o n . 
C o n c l u s i o n 
The 
e v i d e n c e 
p r e s e n t e d 
t o 
t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t 
c r e a t e d 
a 
q u e s t i o n o f f a c t f o r t h e j u r y as t o t h e s e c o n d e l e m e n t o f 
t h e 
H u n t e r s ' 
m a l i c i o u s - p r o s e c u t i o n 
c l a i m - - t h a t , 
i n 
t h e 
p r i o r 
18 
1080335 
p r o c e e d i n g , t h e p r e s e n t d e f e n d a n t a c t e d w i t h o u t p r o b a b l e 
c a u s e 
and 
w i t h 
m a l i c e . 
A c c o r d i n g l y , 
t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t 
e r r e d i n 
e n t e r i n g a summary j u d g m e n t f o r 
M o o r i n g . 
We t h e r e f o r e 
r e v e r s e 
t h e 
j u d g e m e n t and remand t h e c a u s e t o t h e t r i a l 
c o u r t f o r 
f u r t h e r p r o c e e d i n g s 
c o n s i s t e n t w i t h 
t h i s 
o p i n i o n . 
REVERSED AND REMANDED. 
Cobb, C . J . , and S t u a r t , B o l i n , and M u r d o c k , J J . , c o n c u r . 
19