Court Opinion

ID: 9581112
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 22:11:45.483441+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:36:42.673777
License: Public Domain

Carley, Judge,
concurring specially.
I concur wholeheartedly in the result reached by the majority and in all that is said in the majority opinion. However, I would like to make an observation with regard to Division 4 of the majority opinion. The majority refers to the fact that there was a jury verdict against appellant-Mildred Nobles for malicious use of process. This is a correct statement from the record in that the special verdict form completed by the jury used the words "malicious use of process.” However, as is apparent from the factual recitation in the majority opinion and from the entire record, appellee’s cause of action as asserted in the counterclaim was for malicious prosecution as defined in Code Ann. § 105-801. The term "malicious use of process” refers only to civil actions. However, it is noted that the trial judge properly charged the jury as to all elements of malicious prosecution in accordance with Code Ann. Chapter 105-8. No objection to the form of the verdict was raised and, in view of the evidence and the correct charge, the erroneous terminology in the special verdict has no substantive significance. However, I make this observation so that the Bench and the Bar will not read our opinion in this case as an indication that the terms "malicious use of process” and "malicious prosecution” are interchangeable.