Opinion ID: 2617624
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 11

Heading: The Elements of the Tort

Text: We initially delineate the elements of malicious prosecution drawn from proof supplied by multiple civil proceedings. Identification of the constituent elements is central to consideration of the first certified question. It is only when the requirements for maintaining this tort are met that a malicious-prosecution claim arises and the running of limitation is triggered. While our jurisprudence has not previously addressed the question whether a malicious-prosecution claim can be based upon repetitive civil proceedings, the national body of the common law affords ample sources to guide our task. [17] It recognizes the delict of malicious prosecution based upon a multi-componential predicate. where a party (1) has brought successive suits against the same person upon the same cause of action after an adverse decision which should have ended the controversy or (2) has filed separate actions upon the same claim. [18] We recognize today RESTATEMENT (SECOND) OF TORTS § 679 [19] as the correct exposition of this State's common law. [20] For the use of a multi-componential predicate in malicious prosecution the same cause of action must have been asserted in each component. The plaintiff must prove the malicious-prosecution defendant (1) initiated the proceedings [21] embraced within the multi-componential predicate and these proceedings were (2) brought without probable cause, (3) motivated by malice, (4) terminated in the plaintiff's favor and (5) damaging to the plaintiff. [22] While earlier components of the predicate may serve as an element's proof in a later proceeding, each individual suit must satisfy the critical elements of (a) initiation by the malicious-prosecution defendant, (b) termination favorable to the malicious-prosecution plaintiff and (c) lack of probable cause. [23] There is an exception to the lack-of-probable-cause requirement where an earlier action, although brought with probable cause, is decided adversely to the malicious-prosecution defendant. [24] There, if successive suits are brought on the same cause of action, the plaintiff may use the earlier, adversely-decided action to prove one or more of the § 679 tort's elements. Nonetheless, no actual damages may be recovered for the earlier action if it was brought upon probable cause. [25]