Opinion ID: 1102947
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Probable Cause and Malice

Text: Alamo's next contention is that the trial judge erred in denying Alamo's motions for directed verdict on the probable cause and malice elements of the malicious prosecution claim. Alamo asserts that sufficient evidence exists within the record to establish probable cause as a matter of law. Moreover, Alamo states that the record supports no finding of actual or legal malice. As the court stated in Cold v. Clark, 180 So.2d 347, 349 (Fla. 2d DCA 1965): In an action for malicious prosecution, the question of probable cause is a mixed question of law and fact. When the facts relied on to show probable cause are in dispute, their existence is a question of fact for the determination of the jury; but their legal effect, when found or admitted to be true, is for the court to decide as a question of law. From our review of the record, the facts of this case are in dispute. Therefore, we find that the trial judge properly denied Alamo's request for a directed verdict on the issue of probable cause. Likewise, the trial judge properly denied Alamo's request for a directed verdict on the issue of malice. In an action for malicious prosecution it is not necessary for a plaintiff to prove actual malice; legal malice is sufficient and may be inferred from, among other things, a lack of probable cause, gross negligence, or great indifference to persons, property, or the rights of others. Adams. In this case, the issue of probable cause is in dispute and Mancusi produced evidence from which a jury could infer that Alamo's employees intentionally provided false information to authorities.