Opinion ID: 1120806
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Termination in Favor of Accused

Text: Finally, a plaintiff must prove that the criminal proceedings were terminated in favor of the accused. A favorable termination of a criminal prosecution occurs, inter alia, when the proceedings against the accused are dismissed by the formal abandonment of the proceedings by the public prosecutor... . Restatement (Second) of Torts § 659(c) (1977). Defendants argue that the trial court erred in instructing the jury that the criminal action against the plaintiff was dismissed by the court and that it was therefore terminated favorably on behalf of the plaintiff. In essence, the instruction informed the jury that the court had ruled as a matter of law on the issue. The trial court did not err. Even if the issue were one of fact, there is no dispute whatsoever that the action against Hodges was dismissed on the motion of the prosecuting attorney. On these facts, only one conclusion was permissible under the applicable law.