Opinion ID: 2457234
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: proof presented to trial court

Text: Viewing the pleadings and evidence respecting the summary judgment motion in the light most favorable to appellant, we observe that in his complaint, appellant contended the prosecution for theft of leased property arose out of a dispute between him and Hertz Claim Management Corporation (HCM), after appellant was involved in an automobile collision. Pending settlement of appellant's claim from the collision, HCM provided him with the 1991 Pontiac Grand Am via appellee, Carco, the Hertz licensee in Jonesboro, Arkansas. According to appellant's complaint, HCM refused to extend the lease agreement on the 1991 Pontiac Grand Am past June 17, 1991, and instructed appellees Arends and Carco to collect the rental from appellant or obtain the return of the Grand Am. Appellee Arends then completed an affidavit for a warrant for appellant's arrest, stating that appellant had leased the Grand Am and refused to return it. Thus, appellant alleged, appellees maliciously initiated criminal prosecution against him for the sole purpose of collecting a civil debt. Appellees answered the complaint, admitting the affidavit for arrest and that appellant had been found not guilty of theft of leased property. However, appellees denied any knowledge of the automobile collision, and any relationship between appellant and HCM or between themselves and HCM. Appellee Arends denied acting pursuant to any instruction from HCM. The parties engaged in discovery, and appellees moved for summary judgment. In the motion, appellees referred to a deposition of appellant and an affidavit of appellee Arends; however, no such documents were attached to the motion or brief in support thereof. Appellant filed a response to the motion for summary judgment and brief in support thereof asserting that appellees had failed to disclose material facts, and that these facts were in dispute. Appellant attached portions of appellee Arends's deposition to his response and alleged that appellee Arends failed to disclose to the police all the facts known to her when she swore out the arrest warrant. Also attached to appellant's response was an affidavit of Judge Bill Webster, the Jonesboro Municipal Judge, stating that he had read appellee Arends's deposition and that if he had known the facts not disclosed by appellee Arends, he would not have found probable cause for the arrest warrant.