Opinion ID: 1935307
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: issues

Text: The fourth issue raised by the appellant involves the defendant's alleged failure to prove the element of malice. One of the appellant's bases for this assertion is that there was no showing of any actual hostility or ill will between Huntley and Harberts prior to the time of the incident in question. We determine that there need be no showing of actual hostility, a grudge, or ill will between the individuals involved to support a finding of malice in an action for malicious prosecution. We agree with the reasoning expressed by the California Supreme Court in Albertson v. Raboff, 46 Cal.2d 375, 383, 295 P.2d 405, 410 (1956): The malice required in an action for malicious prosecution is not limited to actual hostility or ill will toward plaintiff but exists when the proceedings are instituted primarily for an improper purpose. See also Singleton v. Singleton, 68 Cal. App.2d 681, 157 P.2d 886 (1945), Griswold v. Griswold, 143 Cal. 617, 77 P. 672 (1904) and Glover v. Fleming, 36 Md.App. 381, 373 A.2d 981 (1977). Therefore, the respondent was not required to produce any evidence concerning hostility, ill will or a grudge between Huntley and Harberts, and the trial court properly instructed to this effect. Furthermore, whether or not the element of malice has been proved by a preponderance of the evidence is a question of fact for the jury. Braathen, supra. The jury may infer malice from a want of probable cause. Wuest v. American Tobacco Co., 10 S.D. 394, 73 N.W. 903 (1898) and Richardson v. Dybedahl, 14 S.D. 126, 84 N.W. 486 (1900). We hold that the presence or absence of malice was a question of fact for the jury.