Opinion ID: 1863608
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 9

Heading: Malicious Prosecution Causes of Action

Text: Holmes assigns that the district court erred in directing a verdict against him on his malicious prosecution causes of action. In a malicious prosecution case, the necessary elements for the plaintiff to establish are (1) the commencement or prosecution of the proceeding against him or her; (2) its legal causation by the present defendant; (3) its bona fide termination in favor of the present plaintiff; (4) the absence of probable cause for such proceeding; (5) the presence of malice therein; and (6) damage, conforming to legal standards, resulting to the plaintiff. Prokop v. Hoch, 258 Neb. 1009, 607 N.W.2d 535 (2000); Gordon v. Community First State Bank, 255 Neb. 637, 587 N.W.2d 343 (1998), cert. denied 528 U.S. 814, 120 S.Ct. 50, 145 L.Ed.2d 44 (1999). Although the prosecutions at issue in this case were initiated by Omaha police officers, where an informant knowingly gives false or misleading information or otherwise directs or counsels officials in such a way so as to actively persuade and induce the officer's decision, then the informant may still be held liable for malicious prosecution. See Schmidt v. Richman Gordman, Inc., 191 Neb. 345, 215 N.W.2d 105 (1974). It need not be shown that a defendant actively participated in getting the complaint filed or, for that matter, signed the complaint; if the defendant gave information or made complaint to the officers of law in such a manner as that, in the regular and ordinary course of events, a complaint must issue, then this is sufficient to warrant finding the defendant to be the real prosecutor. See id. The district court determined that there had been no evidence presented that Holmes suffered any damages as a result of either the disturbing the peace charge brought as a result of the July 9, 1994, incident or the trespassing charge brought as a result of the January 28, 1995, incident. However, this court rejected a similar argument in Schmidt v. Richman Gordman, Inc., supra . In that case, shoplifting charges were brought against two retail customers as a result of the complaint of the retailer. The customers sued the retailer and won a jury verdict, and the retailer on appeal challenged the finding of damages. This court stated: When one is unlawfully restrained of his personal liberty, arrested and paraded through a store under guard of a police officer, confined in the local jail for 3 ½ to 4 hours, fingerprinted and mugged for permanent FBI records, charged with a criminal offense, and compelled to retain counsel for their defense, damage is obvious and serious. Mental anguish and distress, humiliation and disgrace are virtually presumed. Id. at 354, 215 N.W.2d at 111. The evidence of damages resulting from the criminal charges is not as substantial in the instant case. Nonetheless, taking the evidence in the light most favorable to Holmes, as we are required to do, we conclude that there is sufficient evidence of damages contained in the record to submit to a finder of fact. The record supports a reasonable inference that Holmes suffered anxiety from the pending criminal charges in both instances because of the potential effect of a criminal record on his employment. The record also reflects that Holmes was subjected to the inconvenience and possible expense of retaining an attorney and appearing in court on the trespassing charge, although the nature of the disposition of that case is not entirely clear. Based on this evidence, a reasonable jury could conclude that Holmes had suffered damages. Because the evidence was sufficient to support a finding of damages, the district court erred in directing a verdict on Holmes' malicious prosecution causes of action. The judgment of the district court is reversed in this regard, and the cause is remanded for a new trial on the malicious prosecution causes of action. We do note, however, that the dismissal with respect to Beran is affirmed, and he should not be a party to the new trial as no error relating to his dismissal was properly preserved for appellate review.