Opinion ID: 877750
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Termination in Watkins' favor.

Text: The next element in a malicious prosecution action is termination of the proceedings in favor of the plaintiff. The Musselshell County and Fergus County complaints were dismissed with prejudice for lack of a speedy trial. Miller contends that this type of dismissal is not in favor of Watkins because it does not reflect his innocence. In Lackner v. LaCroix (1980), 25 Cal.3d 747, 159 Cal. Rptr. 693, 695, 602 P.2d 393, 395, the California Court stated: It is not essential to maintenance of an action for malicious prosecution that the prior proceeding was favorably terminated following trial on the merits. However, termination must reflect on the merits of the underlying action... A dismissal for failure to prosecute ... does reflect on the merits of the action ... The reflection arises from that natural assumption that one does not simply abandon a meritorious action once instituted. (Underscoring added.) We agree with the California Court that a dismissal for lack of speedy trial does reflect on the merits of the case and can be considered as a termination in favor of Watkins.