Opinion ID: 71415
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The Grant of Summary Judgment to City Defendants

Text: 28 Though the district court's opinion largely speaks in terms of qualified immunity, the district court did conclude, in its summary judgment order, that no constitutional violation--except possibly for Wooten's planting of evidence--occurred at all as a result of the two stop and searches. 6 The district court was right. 29 Plaintiff has advanced no theory under which City Defendants could be held liable for Wooten's alleged planting of cocaine in Plaintiff's car on 20 July. So, the district court correctly granted summary judgment to City Defendants. See Menuel v. City of Atlanta, 25 F.3d 990, 997 (11th Cir.1994) (dismissing action against municipality for lack of underlying constitutional violation).D. Malicious Prosecution 30 The elements of a malicious prosecution under Alabama law are (1) institution or continuation of a judicial proceeding, (2) by or at the instance of the defendant, (3) favorable termination of those proceedings, (4) malice, (5) lack of probable cause, (6) injury or damage. Delchamps, Inc. v. Larry, 613 So.2d 1235, 1238 (Ala.1992). A grand jury indictment is prima facie evidence of probable cause which can be overcome by showing that it was induced by misconduct. Lumpkin v. Cofield, 536 So.2d 62, 64 (Ala.1988). Given that reasonable suspicion existed for the two searches, the district court correctly concluded that Plaintiff failed to present evidence sufficient to create a triable issue of fact on misconduct for Bertarelli, Davis and Jones. So, the lack of probable cause element of the tort of malicious prosecution is missing. 31 AFFIRMED in part, VACATED in part, and REMANDED.