Court Opinion

ID: 9758725
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-28 23:42:06.221876+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:28:54.605607
License: Public Domain

HOOD, Associate Judge
(dissenting).
I am unable to agree with the opinion of the court. In Peckham v. Union Finance Co. and Melvin v. Pence, it was ruled that a civil action instituted maliciously and without probable cause does not lay the foundation for an action of malicious prosecution unless accompanied by arrest of the person, seizure of property or special injury. I do not understand that this rule was repudiated in Soffos v. Eaton,, where the specific holding was “that one who twice sues another maliciously and without probable cause is responsible to him in damages.” This court in today’s decision holds that “one suit plus” is sufficient foundation for the action, and thus makes a new rule of law for this jurisdiction. My objection is not to its newness but to its indefiniteness. It seems to me that the rule announced today will force anyone filing a civil action to take his chance on defending an action for malicious prosecution because of some peculiar feature or turn of his case. No two law suits follow exactly the same pattern and I do not think a litigant or lawyer should be compelled to guess as to what may constitute the required “plus” within the meaning of the rule announced today by this court.