Opinion ID: 1359837
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: the issuer of the warrant

Text: The issuer of the warrant is protected against false arrest and imprisonment claims where the warrant is regular in form and the issuer has authority over the described offense and jurisdiction over the person named in the warrant, even if the warrant was issued erroneously. There is no false imprisonment where the accused is imprisoned under valid legal process. Catrone v. 105 Casino Corp., 82 Nev. 166, 414 P.2d 106 (1966); Dixon v. City of Reno, 43 Nev. 413, 187 P. 308 (1920); Cullison v. City of Peoria, 120 Ariz. 165, 584 P.2d 1156 (Ariz. 1978). In the instant case, however, a lack of notice prevented the justice's court from gaining jurisdiction over C.A. Nelson, the person named in the warrant. The incomplete traffic citation was not an adequate summons. The county admitted that it had not given notice to Nelson in any other way. The district court therefore erred in granting summary judgment for all respondents on the false arrest issue. We therefore reverse the grant of summary judgment as to the county, and remand for trial concerning the extent of the county's responsibility for the invalid warrant and Nelson's damages.