Opinion ID: 1465308
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: special injury

Text: Finally, in order for a plaintiff to prevail in an action for malicious prosecution in a civil suit, there must be an arrest of the person or seizure of the property of the plaintiff, or other special injury sustained. Nolan v. Allstate Home Equipment Co., supra . `This doctrine is supported by the following consideration: the courts are open and free to all who have grievances and seek remedies therefor, and there should be no restraint upon a suitor, through fear of liability resulting from failure in his action, which would keep him from the courts. . . .' Peckham v. Union Finance Co., 60 App.D.C. 104, 105-06, 48 F.2d 1016, 1017-18 (1931), quoting Wetmore v. Mellinger, 64 Iowa 741, 18 N.W. 870, 871 (1884). Appellant effectively concedes that he has suffered no injury that would not normally occur as a consequence of a malpractice suit, and appears to recognize that the authority in this jurisdiction does not support his claim. He seeks to avoid the application of the rule by arguing that it is inequitable in the context of medical malpractice actions. He contends that the fact that such actions are particularly harmful to the reputations and livelihood of physicians calls for a modification of the rule with respect to them. The purpose of the special injury rule, however, is to strike a balance between allowing free access to the courts for the vindication of rights without fear of a resulting suit, and the undue exercise of such right. Davis v. Boyle Bros., D.C.Mun.App., 73 A.2d 517, 521 (1950). Appellant's argument, if accepted, would upset that delicate balance. The nature of his profession, given its profound impact on the lives of those with whom he deals, cannot be allowed to insulate him from potential liability. In order to maintain a free access to the courts by persons with grievances who might otherwise be restrained from seeking redress because of their fear of liability should they fail, the special injury rule has consistently been upheld. The limitation is sound. When disputes reach the litigious stage, usually some malice is present on both sides. Friendly tort suits are not common. Nor is existence or want of probable cause always easy to determine until the event of the litigation is known. Some margin of safety in asserting rights, though they turn out to be groundless and their assertion accompanied by some degree of ill-will, must be maintained. Otherwise litigation would lead, not to an end of disputing, but to its beginning, and rights violated would go unredressed for fear of the danger of asserting them. [ Melvin v. Pence, 76 U.S.App.D.C. 154, 157, 130 F.2d 423, 426 (1942).] We conclude that the record reveals a lack of any triable issue of fact, and that appellees were entitled to prevail as a matter of law. While motions for summary judgment should be granted sparingly, when the facts and applicable legal standards lead but to one conclusion, it is not error to grant such a motion. Reyman v. Edward H. Jones & Co., D.C.Mun.App., 96 A.2d 42 (1953). The judgment appealed from is Affirmed.