Court Opinion

ID: 9637181
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 14:59:56.286163+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:09:54.290828
License: Public Domain

GAPPY, Justice,
concurring.
I concur only in the result reached by the majority.
I agree with the learned court below that termination of the criminal proceedings in favor of the plaintiff means more than mere termination. “Proceedings are ‘terminated in favor of the accused,’ [for purposes of a malicious prosecution action], only when their final disposition is such as to indicate the innocence of the accused.” Restatement (Second) of Torts § 660 Comment a (1977). See also Junod v. Bader, 312 Pa.Super. 92, 458 A.2d 251 (1983). However, contrary to the Superior Court, and consistent with the majority’s holding herein, I conclude that where the criminal charges lodged by a private complainant are “nolle prossed” for lack of sufficient evidence or are withdrawn by the private complainants— particularly where the statute of limitations has expired without the charges being reinstated — the termination is consistent with innocence. Compare Woodyatt v. Bank of Old York Road, 408 Pa. 257, 182 A.2d 500 (1962) (discharge after abandonment of charges by the prosecutor or charges being withdrawn by the prosecutor, although not a determination of merits, is sufficient to satisfy element of favorable termination of the criminal action).
I disagree, however, with the majority’s holding that the proceedings on the other charges against Appellant terminated in his favor. I agree with the Superior Court that discharge of a criminal prosecution as a result of a mistrial is not a termination that is consistent with innocence. See Singleton v. City of New York, 632 F.2d 185, 193-194 (2d Cir.1980), cert. denied, 450 U.S. 920, 101 S.Ct. 1368, 67 L.Ed.2d 347 (1981). I believe that the majority opinion improperly focuses its inqui*68ry upon the subsequent quashing of the indictment upon the Commonwealth’s attempt to retry Appellant. I also point out that the indictment was quashed on double jeopardy grounds, and not for a reason consistent with Appellant’s innocence.
Thus, I am constrained to concur only in the result.