Opinion ID: 2547165
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 14

Heading: Malicious prosecution, false arrest, [58] and false imprisonment

Text: Malicious prosecution consists of a prior criminal action being filed against the claimant, plus lack of probable cause to commence the prior action, malice, a favorable termination of the prior criminal action, and damages. [59] Proof of lack of probable cause may denote malice. [60] As for false arrest, we have held that a claimant must show that the actor instigated or effected an unlawful arrest. [61] Similarly, we have pointed out that false imprisonment arising from a false arrest occurs when the claimant's liberty is restrained `under the probable imminence of force without any legal cause or justification. ' [62] Thus, in Hernandez v. City of Reno, [63] we held that an actor is subject to liability to another for false imprisonment `if (a) he acts intending to confine the other or a third person within boundaries fixed by the actor, and (b) his act directly or indirectly results in such a confinement of the other, and (c) the other is conscious of the confinement or is harmed by it.' In response, the State primarily contends that Jordan is unable to show the existence of any issue of material fact as to lack of probable cause or legal justification for the arrest because the justice of the peace's probable cause determination, attached to Jordan's complaint, constitutes conclusive evidence of probable cause. [64] However, the justice of the peace's initial determination to hold Jordan for trial does not constitute irrebuttable evidence of probable cause to arrest. [65] In this case, Jordan has alleged that the finding was procured through perjury. Moreover, Officer Jones' affidavits do not answer material questions regarding his basis for believing that Jordan's refusal to leave constituted a crime. Thus, at this point, genuine issues of material fact exist as to whether the State committed malicious prosecution and/or false arrest/false imprisonment, and the district court improperly granted summary judgment on those claims. [66]