A man claimed that a sheriff had improperly caused him to enter a guilty plea to charges of terroristic threatening in 1989, despite the alleged fact that he was incompetent to stand trial. This, he claimed, caused him further damages in 1992 when he received an enhanced sentence on new charges because of the prior conviction. The 1989 conviction was later set aside, on a finding that the guilty plea was entered when the defendant was not competent to understand what he was doing. He sued the sheriff, claiming violation of a right not to be prosecuted while incompetent. Rejecting the plaintiff's federal civil rights claim, the appeals court stated that it could find no prior cases imposing liability for "coercing or inducing a guilty plea that is later determined not to be knowing and voluntary." The sheriff also had no obligation to determine the plaintiff's fitness to stand trial at the time he obtained the confession. Hayden v. Nevada County, #10-3838, 2012 U.S. App. Lexis 472 (8th).
      A man arrested and convicted of sexual assault had his conviction overturned when DNA testing indicated that his uncle, rather than he, was the guilty party. Despite this, his malicious prosecution lawsuit against the police was properly dismissed, since, based on the evidence they had at the time, they had probable cause to arrest him, even if they were ultimately mistaken. Under these circumstances, they had no improper malice towards him, and did nothing improper. Holland v. City of Chicago, #09-3905, 2011 U.S. App. Lexis 12688 (7th Cir.).
    An arrestee filed a federal civil rights lawsuit concerning his arrest and pepper spraying. While that lawsuit was pending, he picketed police headquarters with signs stating that an officer was "dirty" and a "liar." This resulted in him being charged with criminal libel, and he sought to sue the charging officer, claiming that the charges were retaliatory for his exercise of his First Amendment rights. He had, however, subsequently settled the original lawsuit, and a federal appeals court found that the settlement agreement also covered the claims made in his second lawsuit. The plaintiff argued that his claim arising from the picketing incident did not accrue until after the charges concerning it were dismissed, but the court stated that, unlike a malicious prosecution claim, a" First Amendment retaliatory-prosecution claim does not require a favorable termination of the underlying action." Mata v. Anderson, # 10-2031, 635 F.3d 1250 (10th Cir. 2011).
     An agent from Homeland Security, dispatched by the federal government to observe but not participate in the questioning of a U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officer by Puerto Rican police officers played no active part in his prosecution on charges arising from his taking from a police vehicle and shredding of a sticker that allowed access to secured areas of an airport. The U.S. government, therefore, was not liable in his malicious prosecution claim under the Federal Tort Claims Act. Barros-Villahermosa v. U.S., No. 09-2614, 2011 U.S. App. Lexis 7750 (1st Cir.).
     A federal appeals court upheld a jury's award of $1,426,261 in compensatory damages and $75,000 in punitive damages, as well as an award of $215,037.50 in attorneys' fees against a police detective for malicious prosecution of a man for murder. The appeals court found ample evidence that the detective acted without probable cause, refrained from looking into other possible suspects, and acted with actual malice. The plaintiff was acquitted of murder charges at trial. Manganiello v. City of N.Y, #09-0462, 612 F.3d 149 (2nd Cir.2010).
     There was arguable probable cause to stop a motorist and arrest him for racing, defeating his malicious prosecution claim. An officer testified to having heard the loud motor of the motorist's truck, and seeing the truck and another vehicle accelerate at a high rate of speed from a stop for a short distance. Two other officers, while they did not personally observe this, reasonably relied on the information the first officer provided. The court also rejected the argument that there was no probable cause to arrest the motorist for DUI, given his admission that his had consumed three or four beers before the arrest, and an officer's testimony that he smelled alcohol on his breath, and that he refused to take a required, state-administered chemical test. Burnett v. Unified Government of Athens-Clarke County, Georgia, #10-10324, 2010 U.S. App. Lexis 18505 (Unpub. 11th Cir.).
     A woman claimed that she was maliciously prosecuted for attempted theft of a dog after observing a sickly and skinny dog on the street, lacking a collar or tags, and took it into her car, intending to take it to an animal shelter. Police subsequently acted on a complaint by the dog's owner. The city police department was immune, under Ohio state law, from a malicious prosecution claim, and there was no statute imposing liability for malicious prosecution on the officers when the woman did not assert that they acted outside the scope of their official duties or with malice. There was, under the circumstances, arguable probable cause for the charges against her, so her malicious prosecution claims were frivolous. Attorneys' fees and expenses were therefore awarded to the city and its employees. Slye v. City of London Police Dept., #CA2009-12-027, 2010 Ohio App. Lexis 2337 (12th Dist.).
     A man prosecuted and convicted of charges of sexual misconduct appealed the dismissal of his lawsuit asserting various claims arising out of his arrest, prosecution, and conviction. Noting that he had pled guilty to the charges in his state criminal case, a federal court ruled that his lawsuit was barred by the defense of collateral estoppel since he neither appealed his conviction nor sought to withdraw his guilty plea. The plaintiff's argument that he was denied a full and fair opportunity to litigate the issue of his guilt because he had incompetent counsel was rejected, with the appeals court noting that he himself had practiced law at a large firm prior to his disbarment, and stated that his plea was being entered voluntarily and knowingly, and that he had committed the offenses for which he was pleading guilty. Additionally, some claims against the prosecutor were barred by absolute prosecutorial immunity. Colliton v. Donnelly, #09-4186, 2010 U.S. App. Lexis 22727 (Unpub. 2nd Cir.).
     A school district employee was indicted and arrested in connected with an allegedly false report concerning high school dropout statistics sent to the state of Texas, purportedly changing records to show no drop-outs from a high school that actually had 30. He subsequently claimed that a variety of defendants had intentionally withheld information and manipulated evidence to procure his indictment. A federal appeals court ruled that there could be no "free-standing" federal malicious prosecution claim. The initiation of criminal charges without probable cause may set in play events that violate explicit constitutional rights, but the plaintiff must show that government officials violated specific constitutional rights in connection with a malicious prosecution claim. This plaintiff failed to do so, and explicitly waived any false arrest claim. Two separate grand juries indicted the plaintiff, and there was no showing that any of the defendants knowingly withheld allegedly exculpatory evidence prior to these indictments. Cuadra v. Houston Independent School District, #09-20715, 2010 U.S. App. Lexis 23623 (5th Cir.).
      An award of damages against a police officer for malicious prosecution was upheld when it was clear that he influenced the decision to prosecute the plaintiffs by making various misstatements to the prosecutor. A false arrest claim was also upheld, as there was no probable cause for the arrest at the time the officer submitted a warrant application. Further proceedings were ordered, however, on the issue of whether the award of over $2.5 million in damages was excessive and should be reduced. Sykes v. Anderson, #08-2088, 2010 U.S. App. Lexis 23204 (6th Cir.).
    An arrestee claimed that a grand jury indictment that resulted in her arrest was "tainted" by the actions of a justice of the peace/county judge and a police chief. The plaintiff claimed that the judge sexually assaulted her, and then, to try to discredit her, he conspired with the police chief to have her prosecuted for extortion. The problem with this claim, a federal appeals court found, was that there was no competent summary judgment evidence that the extortion claim was false, since the plaintiff had not filed a sworn statement to that effect with the trial court. While a district attorney did file an affidavit stating that his investigation had uncovered no evidence of extortion, his statement did not assert that the extortion claim was false. There was also no evidence from which it could be inferred that the police chief knew that the judge's accusations were false, and the judge did not testify before the grand jury that indicted the plaintiff. The plaintiff, therefore, failed to establish a violation of her constitutional rights, so summary judgment was properly entered for the defendants, including the city, the county, the judge, and the chief of police. Espinosa v. Zamora, #10-40190, 2010 U.S. App. Lexis 21573 (Unpub. 5th Cir.).
     A motorist was arrested by a city police officer for DUI, and a court, acting on the motorist's petition to rescind the statutory summary suspension of his driver's license, ruled that the officer had probable cause to make the arrest for alcohol-impaired driving. The motorist subsequently sued the officer and the employing city for malicious prosecution. The Illinois Supreme Court has overturned rulings by the trial and intermediate appeals court which rejected his malicious prosecution claim on the reasoning that he was collaterally estopped from relitigating the validity of probable cause because of the probable cause determination in the license suspension proceeding. If the lower court's reasoning were upheld, the Illinois Supreme Court commented, there would be a need to conduct "full-blown" hearings on probable cause at statutory summary suspension proceedings, which would conflict with the desirable goal of conducting "swift hearings" focused on the sole purpose of whether there were grounds to rescind the summary suspension of a motorist's driving privileges. Hurlbert v. Charles, #109041, 2010 Ill. Lexis 1064.
     A woman and her sister, who received citations for retail theft, were found not guilty after trial, and filed a malicious prosecution lawsuit against the police officer who wrote the citations, as well as the store's loss prevention officers. The defendants had probable cause to commence the prosecution, the appeals court ruled, based on both the store officers' observations of the sisters, who appeared to have picked up a bracelet at a jewelry counter and then failed to return it to the counter, and the citing officer's receipt of the store officers' statements and viewing of a store security videotape of the incident. The bracelet was subsequently not found in the store, and the sisters, when they realized that they were being observed, departed in different directions before they could be apprehended. Under these circumstances, the defendants were entitled to summary judgment. Anderson v. Mesure, #09-4405, 2010 U.S. App. Lexis 19508 (Unpub. 3rd Cir.).
     A former inmate released on a habeas corpus order filed a lawsuit claiming that a prosecutor and a police sergeant, among others, conspired with a witness to frame him on murder charges. His murder conviction had been based on the testimony of a former cellmate who falsely testified that he had not been promised anything in exchange for his testimony. Both the police sergeant and the prosecutor, however, had promised to contact the parole board on behalf of the witness. The defendant prosecutor was entitled to absolute prosecutorial immunity for allegedly failing to correct the witness's statement at trial, and the sergeant was entitled to qualified immunity, since there was probable cause for the plaintiff's arrest for the murder. Beckett v. Ford, #09-3719, 2010 U.S. App. Lexis 12957 (Unpub. 6th Cir.).
     When a woman went to the police department to report that she had been raped weeks earlier, unknown to her, her alleged rapist had called police to complain about "menacing" phone calls accusing him of raping her. After she was interrogated, she withdrew her rape complaint, and was herself arrested for filing a false report. She was subsequently acquitted of this charge, and sued the city, the police department, and a detective for false imprisonment and malicious prosecution. Her false imprisonment claim was time barred as it was filed three years after the date of her arrest. Her malicious prosecution claim, which only accrued after her acquittal, was not time barred. A federal civil rights malicious prosecution claim, however, could not be based on a warrantless arrest, since that did not amount to legal process, the court held, and the pretrial conditions that she faced were not a significant deprivation of her liberty constituting a Fourth Amendment seizure. Summary judgment was granted to the defendants. Harrington v. City of Nashua, #09-2275, 2010 U.S. App. Lexis 13210 (Unpub. 1st Cir.).
     The plaintiff claimed that he was entitled to damages because his criminal conviction was the result of constitutional errors. His conviction, however, had never been overturned, and his arguments concerning the alleged constitutional violations related to his conviction had been rejected in his trial, in the direct appeal of his conviction, and in a habeas corpus proceeding. His claims were barred, both because he had had a full and fair opportunity to litigate them previously and courts had rendered decisions adverse to him, and because success on his civil rights claims would imply the invalidity of his conviction, which had not been set aside. Smith v. City of Tulsa, #10-5006, 2010 U.S. App. Lexis 12209 (Unpub. 10th Cir.).
     The City of New York has reached a $9.9 million settlement with a man who served nineteen years in prison for murder, who was exonerated and released. He had filed a federal lawsuit contending that he had been framed for the crime by a police detective. The detective is himself currently serving a life sentence in prison for involvement in mob-related killings. The plaintiff previously received a $1.9 million settlement from the state. The murder was of a prostitute that the plaintiff had previously had a relationship with. The lawsuit claimed that the detective coerced a witness into falsely identifying the plaintiff as the killer. The detective also allegedly withheld exculpatory evidence. Gibbs v. City of New York, #1:06-cv-05112, U.S. Dist. Ct. (E.D.N.Y.).
     A motorist filed suit for malicious prosecution on charges arising during a traffic stop and arrest for several traffic infractions, civil infractions, and drunk driving. All charges were dismissed when his blood alcohol level was determined to be 0.00%. The federal appeals court held that summary judgment was properly granted on malicious prosecution claims related to four of the seven tickets written, since they were not criminal prosecutions, but civil infractions. The court also upheld summary judgment on an unlawful search claim related to a second blood test conducted, and on claims for municipal liability. Further proceedings were ordered, however, on federal and state malicious prosecution, unlawful arrest, and excessive force claims arising out of the criminal charges. Miller v. Sanilac County, #09-1340, 2010 U.S. App. Lexis 11469 (6th Cir.).
     A man was prosecuted and convicted of molesting his adopted daughter. After the conviction was overturned, he was reprosecuted and acquitted. He sued his ex-wife, as well as his ex-wife's current husband, who was the police officer who investigated the molestation charge, claiming conspiracy to violate his rights and suppression of exculpatory evidence. The jury found that the defendant officer conspired with his wife (the plaintiff's ex-wife) to violate the plaintiff's due process rights. The officer allegedly steered the investigation to benefit his wife. He allegedly failed to tell prosecutors the "full extent" of his relationship with the plaintiff's ex-wife, and also allegedly did not preserve the purported victim's diary, which did not support the molestation claim. The jury awarded $14 million in actual damages against both defendants, and punitive damages of $1 million each against both of them, for a total of $16 million. A federal appeals court upheld this result, rejecting arguments that the amount of punitive damages was excessive, since they amounted to only 7% of the compensatory damages. White v. McKinley, #09-1945, 2010 U.S. App. Lexis 9980 (8th Cir.). Editor's note: In a prior decision in the case, the appeals court held that the officer was not entitled to qualified immunity, since no reasonable officer could have believed that his alleged actions were proper. White v. McKinley, #07-1002, 514 F.3d 807 (8th Cir. 2008).
     A husband and wife operated a bail bond company. A number of law enforcement officials and employees investigated the couple based on allegations of criminal activities and information that a suspect may have paid for his bail bond with the proceeds of a bank robbery. The investigation culminated in the issuance of search and arrest warrants, although criminal charges were subsequently dismissed. The couple sued for illegal search and seizure, falsified evidence, and failure to investigate the truth of the charges against them. An appeals court found that only a malicious prosecution claim was timely, with all other claims barred by a two-year state statute of limitations. The malicious prosecution claims, however, were frivolous, since there was no evidence of the fabrication of evidence or the use of persons of questionable veracity as agents of the investigation. The defendants were therefore entitled to an award of attorneys' fees and the rejection of all claims was upheld. Thorpe v. Ancell, #06-1404, 2010 U.S. App. Lexis 4195 (Unpub. 10th Cir.).
     Two police officers arrested a woman and her mother, claiming that the woman reached into their squad car, grabbed an officer's shirt, and was otherwise disorderly, and that the mother was also disorderly and interfered with her daughter's arrest. The arrestees claimed that they did nothing, but that the officers fabricated a story to support their arrests and the prosecution of the woman, who was acquitted. After trial, a jury returned a verdict for the officers. A federal appeals court, however, found that this result could not be upheld because the jury was exposed to a "significant amount of erroneously admitted and highly prejudicial" testimony, including opinions by a police lieutenant and two assistant district attorneys on the officers' credibility, and on the issue of probable cause for the arrests and prosecution. "The admission of these statements violated bedrock principles of evidence law that prohibit witnesses (a) from vouching for other witnesses, (b) from testifying in the form of legal conclusions, and (c) from interpreting evidence that jurors can equally well analyze on their own." A new trial was therefore granted. Cameron v. N.Y., #08-5937, 598 F.3d 50 (2nd Cir. 2010).
   A juvenile claimed that a number of defendants violated his Fourth and Fourteenth Amendment rights by beginning juvenile proceedings against him and summoning him to court. For purposes of federal civil rights claims, it is not sufficient to assert that you are prosecuted without probable cause or summoned in order to impose liability. A court summons, the court noted, is not a seizure for purposes of the Fourth Amendment, and there is "no constitutional right not to be prosecuted without probable cause." The court's ruling, it hastened to add, "should not be misconstrued to deny any rights to parties whom prosecutors or other officials falsely accuse by way of fabricating evidence, withholding exculpatory evidence, tampering with witnesses, or committing any other independent constitutional violation," none of which the plaintiff alleged. "Nor should it be misconstrued to deny any rights to parties unlike Tully who have been wrongfully jailed or imprisoned." Tully v. Barada, #09-3237, 2010 U.S. App. Lexis 5494 (7th Cir.).
     After a couple's three-year-old daughter was kidnapped, sexually assaulted, and murdered, the father was allegedly framed by police detectives for the crime, and coerced until he agreed to a "confession" that the detectives had concocted, arresting him and causing him to be jailed and face a possible death penalty on a charge of first degree murder. Charges against him were eventually dropped eight months later on the basis of DNA testing that excluded him as the source of the DNA found on his daughter's body. No one else has been accused of the crime. A jury returned awards for the father and his wife on claims of violation of due process, false arrest, malicious prosecution, emotional distress, and punitive damages, as well as the wife's loss of consortium. A total of $9.3 million was awarded to the father and $6.2 million to his wife. A federal appeals court, while generally upholding the awards to the plaintiffs, ordered either a reduction of damages to a total of $8,166,000 or to $8 million and a new trial on the false arrest and emotional distress claims, at the election of the plaintiffs. Fox v. Hayes, #08-3736, 2010 U.S. App. Lexis 7154 (7th Cir.).
    An arrestee sued Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents, claiming that they violated his rights by subjecting him to arrest and prosecution without probable cause. The arrest took place after the agents were informed that a police officer had allegedly been selling large quantities of drugs, that a second officer had been supplying him with heroin, and that the plaintiff, who was also a police officer, had been in contact with both of them. When a meeting took place at a restaurant between an undercover agent and the two officers believed to be involved in the drug transactions, the plaintiff was also present, sitting at a nearby table. An agent subsequently testified at a grand jury proceeding that the plaintiff had been present as a bodyguard, leading to his indictment and arrest on charges for which he was later acquitted. The court ruled that the agents were entitled to qualified immunity, since a reasonable officer, confronting these facts, could have believed that the plaintiff was, in fact, involved in the drug trafficking and present as a bodyguard. Martinez-Rodriguez v. Guevara, #08-10862, 010 U.S. App. Lexis 4178 (1st Cir.).
     The plaintiff claimed that he had been maliciously prosecuted for forgery. The appeals court noted that his arrest was made pursuant to a grand jury indictment, which established probable cause. The plaintiff also failed to show that a defendant deputy who testified before the grand jury maliciously withheld pertinent information, so the deputy was entitled to qualified immunity. Trois v. Long, #08-51231, 2010 U.S. App. Lexis 1397 (Unpub. 5th Cir.).
     Under prior precedent, Newsome v. McCabe, #00-2326, 256 F. 3rd 747 (7th Cir. 2001), the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit ruled that there could be no separate cause of action under federal civil rights law for malicious prosecution if a state remedy for such claims exists. Illinois does provide a state remedy for malicious prosecution. In this case, the Seventh Circuit rejected an argument that its prior ruling should be reconsidered, while also noting that this did not preclude a federal civil rights claim against officers who misrepresent evidence to prosecutors--a due process claim based on the withholding of exculpatory evidence. The plaintiff, who was acquitted in his criminal trial, therefore, could not bring a federal civil rights malicious prosecution action, but could have a due process claim if, as he asserted, the prompt disclosure of suppressed evidence would have changed prosecutors' decision to put him on trial to begin with. The plaintiff, however, had limited his appeal to asking the court to alter its prior rulings concerning claims for malicious prosecution, which the court declined to do. Parish v. City of Chicago, #09-1385, 2009 U.S. App. Lexis 24699 (Unpub. 7th Cir.).
     An arrestee who had murder charges against him dropped could pursue malicious prosecution claims despite the fact that he was subsequently also charged, prosecuted, and convicted of evidence tampering for attempting to eat business cards in his possession at the time of his arrest. Malicious prosecution claims can be pursued on a charge-by-charge basis, and a successful malicious prosecution claim does not necessarily have to be based on a showing that the plaintiff achieved a favorable termination of all criminal charges against him. Miller v. Spiers, #07-2134, 2009 U.S. App. Lexis 17077 (Unpub 10th Cir.).
      A detainee showed that a police officer used excessive force against him after encountering him attempting to restrain a developmentally delayed adult who had fled a residential facility where he worked. He also showed that a second officer and a sergeant on the scene improperly failed to intervene to end the first officer's use of force. The defendants then made false reports about the incident, and caused the detainee to be maliciously prosecuted. The plaintiff prevailed against the defendants individually on both excessive force and malicious prosecution federal civil rights claims, as well as state law negligence claims. While federal claims against the city were rejected, the city was vicariously liable for the officers' negligence. Claims of racial animus were rejected. The plaintiff was awarded $125,155.20 in compensatory damages and $55,000 in punitive damages. Knapps v. City of Oakland, #05-2935, 2009 U.S. Dist. Lexis 67141 (N.D. Cal.).
     Almost thirty years after four men were convicted of involvement in an organized crime "gangland slaying," the F.B.I. disclosed, for the first time, that it had all along possessed reliable intelligence undercutting the testimony of a cooperating witness whose version of the murder was the basis of the convictions, but had suppressed this information. All four convictions were vacated, but by then, two of the men had died in prison, the third had been paroled, and only the fourth was still incarcerated. The two surviving men, along with the estates of the two decedents, sued the U.S. government under the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA), 28 U.S.C. Secs. 1346(b), 2671-2680. After a bench trial, the court found the government liable, awarding over $100 million in damages. A federal appeals court, while commenting that the damage awards were "considerably higher than any one of us, if sitting on the trial court bench, would have ordered," nevertheless upheld the awards, finding that they were not "so grossly disproportionate to the harm sustained as to either shock our collective conscience or raise the specter of a miscarriage of justice." There was no liability for malicious prosecution, the court held, as the U.S. government had not initiated the murder prosecution of the four men by the state of Massachusetts, but liability was found on the basis of a state law claim for intentional infliction of emotional distress, applicable to the U.S. government through the FTCA. Limone v. U.S., #08-1327, 2009 U.S. App. Lexis 19239 (1st Cir.).
     Homicide investigators were not entitled to summary judgment in a malicious prosecution lawsuit brought by former inmates who served almost 13 years in prison on a murder conviction before being found factually innocent. The obligation to reveal exculpatory evidence to the accused's defense attorney applies to police, not just to prosecutors. There was evidence that the investigators were told by a person that they had arrested the wrong person, identified the actual shooter, and described the murder in a manner consistent with the evidence. These facts, if true, should have been disclosed instead of being "buried" in a police file. The investigators' inconsistent and contradictory statements concerning when they received this evidence, which contradicted the testimony of the key prosecution witness at the criminal trial, showed that there were factual issues as to whether they violated their duty to disclose exculpatory evidence. Tennison v. City and County of San Francisco, #06-15426, 2009 U.S. App. Lexis 13885 (9th Cir.).
     An arrestee was convicted of kidnapping, assault with intent to commit murder, and criminal sexual conduct. The conviction was reversed, based on new evidence and discredited testimony. After a new trial, the arrestee was acquitted, but he spent a total of twelve years in incarceration. The arrestee sued, claiming that nine law enforcement defendants fabricated evidence against him, failed to disclose exculpatory evidence, and pursued his prosecution and his retrial without probable cause. A federal appeals court rejected all claims based on testimony presented at trial, for which absolute immunity exists. A police detective's alleged suppression of a witness's statement, which cast serious doubt on, if not entirely discrediting, the identification of the arrestee as the offender, if true, would have violated the duty to disclose exculpatory evidence. A police officer who destroyed certain evidence, however, was not shown to have had any idea that it could have exonerated the arrestee, and therefore could not be held liable. Moldowan v. City of Warren, #07-2115/2116/2117, 2009 U.S. App. Lexis 14238 (6th Cir.).
     In a malicious prosecution lawsuit, the trial court erred in holding that the existence of a grand jury indictment conclusively proved the existence of probable cause. The indictment only established a rebuttable presumption of probable cause, and the plaintiff could prevail if he showed that the indictment was produced by "fraud, corruption, perjury, fabricated evidence, or other wrongful conduct undertaken in bad faith." Moore v. Hartman, No. 08-5370, 2009 U.S. App. Lexis 14942 (D.C. Cir.). Editor's Note: In earlier proceedings in the case, which has a long history going back to the 1980s, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that lack of probable cause is an essential element of a federal civil rights claim for retaliatory prosecution, rejecting an argument that government officials are barred from bringing charges that they would not have pursued absent retaliatory motive regardless of whether the had probable cause to do so. Hartman v. Moore, #04-1495, 547 U.S. 250 (2006).
     A federal jury awarded $21 million to a reputed gang leader who claimed that a former Chicago police detective framed him for a murder. After his murder conviction was reversed on appeal, a gang member stated at a second trial that the detective had coerced him and directed him to pick the arrestee out of a lineup and identify him as the killer. The award includes $21 million in compensatory damages and $15,000 in punitive damages against the detective. Claims against the city were not tried during the trial of claims against the detective, and remain pending. The plaintiff served over eleven years in prison before his conviction was overturned on the basis that his identification was tainted. Johnson v. Guevara, #05C1042 (N.D. Ill. June 22, 2009).
     Officers and a prosecutor were not liable for malicious prosecution of a man's ex-fiance for driving with a suspended license, domestic violence, and violation of a temporary protective order. There was no showing of selective or vindictive prosecution or that she was targeted for some improper reason. Claims that a police officer taunted her and that a police captain told her there would be no investigation of her complaint of stolen property did not show a violation of any constitutional right. Wiley v. Oberlin Police Dept., #07-4441, 2009 U.S. App. Lexis 10607 (Unpub. 6th Cir.).
     Probable cause existed for the prosecution of a mother for responsibility in the accidental drowning death of her eleven-month-old daughter. The mother allegedly left a sliding door in the house open and her daughter crawled out of the house and drowned in the backyard swimming pool. While the mother claimed that a police detective fabricated evidence concerning how wide the sliding door was open and whether the father had previously warned the mother that something like this could happen, his conduct was not "shocking" to the conscience. The mother only claimed a two inch discrepancy concerning how wide the door had been open, and the evidence allegedly fabricated by the detective differed so slightly from the mother's story that it was not reasonable to believe that it could have affected the jury's decision in the prosecution. The jury acquitted the mother on involuntary manslaughter and second-degree child abuse charges. Garner v. Grant, #08-1418, 2009 U.S. App. Lexis 10602 (Unpub.6th Cir.).
     An arrestee could not pursue federal civil rights claims for malicious prosecution or abuse of process when Illinois provided state law remedies for such claims. The arrestee's claim that a detective lacked probable cause or a warrant for his arrest did state a federal civil rights claim, but it was time barred under an Illinois two-year statute of limitations. Adams v. Rotkvich, #08-3998, 2009 U.S. App. Lexis 9900 (Unpub. 7th Cir.).
     Because there was no evidence that a deputy acted maliciously to withhold exculpatory evidence from a grand jury, he could not be held liable for malicious prosecution of the plaintiff, a former sheriff's department employee, for embezzlement and false pretenses. The fact that the deputy did not mention to the grand jury that the plaintiff's wife had repeatedly stated that he had not engaged in criminal conduct was insufficient to show that the deputy's testimony had tainted the grand jury process. Porter v. Farris, #08-60832, 2009 U.S. App. Lexis 9502 (Unpub. 5th Cir.).
     A man arrested and prosecuted following a bar fight could not pursue malicious prosecution claims when he was acquitted of aggravated assault and public intoxication, but found guilty of disorderly conduct. The court ruled that, because of the conviction on one charge, the plaintiff could not show that the prosecution terminated in a manner favorable to him. All three charges, the court noted, were aimed at punishing the same underlying misconduct. Kossler v. Crisanti, #06-3241, 2009 U.S. App. Lexis 8432 (3rd Cir.).
     A man arrested and prosecuted for murder claimed that officers fabricated the case against him by pressuring witnesses to falsely identify him and ignoring evidence that was inconsistent with his participation in the crime. He further claimed that a prosecutor did not provide him with available exculpatory evidence. The federal appeals court found that the plaintiff had adequately pled a case for the city being liable for false arrest and malicious prosecution by virtue of failure to train officers and prosecutors in proper identification and investigation techniques and procedures or the need to reveal exculpatory evidence to criminal defendants. Claims based on failure to adequately supervise and discipline officers and prosecutors also survived. The verdict acquitting the plaintiff in the criminal prosecution, however, defeated any civil rights claim based on the failure to provide exculpatory evidence. Ambrose v. City of New York, #02-CV-10200, 2009 U.S. Dist. Lexis 27498 (S.D.N.Y.).
     In a malicious prosecution lawsuit in which the plaintiffs also claimed that police officers engaged in racial profiling in making a traffic stop, an appeals court upheld a jury verdict for the defendant officers. The plaintiffs failed to successfully carry the burden of showing the jury that the marijuana found in their vehicle was not in plain view. King v. Brando, No. 07-3678, 2008 U.S. App. Lexis 25642 (Unpub. 2nd Cir.).
     A 15 year-old girl, acquitted of charges of having sexually abused a six year-old child, could not pursue a federal constitutional claim based on the alleged false accusation. She was not seized, for Fourth Amendment purposes when she was merely summoned for trial before a juvenile court and given minimal pre-trial restrictions. Her malicious prosecution claim would more appropriately be brought in state court. Bielanski v. County of Kane, No. 07-1928, 2008 U.S. App. Lexis 26303 (7th Cir.).
     For purposes of a malicious prosecution claim, the vacating of a motorist's guilty plea to a drug offense on the basis of a state report indicating that state police engaged in unlawful racial profiling in stopping motorists did not establish his innocence, as required to show a "favorable termination" of the criminal case against him. Hilton v. Whitman, Civil Action No. 04-6420, 2008 U.S. Dist. Lexis 102157 (D.N.J.).
     A disabled woman's malicious prosecution lawsuit was based on the contention that, in a case of mistaken identity, she was not the person from whom officers bought drugs, but she was arrested and prosecuted for that crime. There were genuine factual issues as to whether the officers carried out a reasonable investigation, from which the plaintiff claimed that they would have seen clear physical differences between her and the suspect sought. Garrett v. Stanton, Civil No. 08-0175, 2008 U.S. Dist. Lexis 86249 (S.D. Ala.).
     Lawsuit for malicious prosecution for harassment, when the arrest and prosecution was based solely on information provided by the victim, was valid, as the harassment offense at issue had to be committed in the officers' presence to establish probable cause. The plaintiff failed to show, however, a municipal policy or custom, as required to establish municipal liability. Ramos v. City of New York, 06-5252, 2008 U.S. App. Lexis 23226 (2nd Cir.).
     A former Chicago police officer sentenced to death on kidnapping and murder charges subsequently had his conviction overturned, and sued FBI agents for allegedly "framing" him in violation of his constitutional rights. A jury found for the plaintiff on these claims, and $6.5 million in damages was awarded. The trial court subsequently granted judgment to the U.S. government on malicious prosecution claims under the Federal Tort Claims Act, 28 U.S.C. Secs. 1346, 2671-2680. The trial court subsequently also vacated the jury's award to the plaintiff on the federal civil rights claims, finding that the "judgment bar" rule of the FTCA contained in 28 U.S.C. Sec. 2676 barred the federal civil rights claims against the FBI agents, even though the judgment against them had previously been entered. Under the applicable provision of the FTCA, a judgment under the FTCA acts as a "complete bar to any action by the claimant, by reason of the same subject matter, against the employee of the government whose act or omission gave rise to the claim." In this case, the plaintiff, by pursuing both federal civil rights claims, and claims under the FTCA, and failing to drop the FTCA claims after he received the jury's $6.5 million verdict on the federal civil rights claim lost any right to collect on the jury's verdict. His decision to proceed to take the FTCA claims to judgment, the court found, triggered Sec. 2676 and required the vacating of the jury's award after the FTCA claim was rejected. A federal appeals court upheld this result. The appeals court stated that it was "bound by the plain language of the judgment bar, which makes no exception for claims brought in the same action, and gives no indication that the sequencing of judgments should control the application of the bar." Manning v. U.S.A., No. 07-1120, 2008 U.S. App. Lexis 20996 (7th Cir.).
     A man convicted of a sexual assault, and exonerated when DNA proved that the semen found on the victim's underwear was not his, presented evidence sufficient to support a jury's verdict in his favor against a police officer for allegedly violating his due process right by tampering with or manipulating testimonial evidence and identification, causing his trial to be unfair. His claim was not time barred because his right to sue for malicious prosecution only arose after his criminal conviction was set aside. The Plaintiff was awarded $9,063,000 against the officer, a judgment for which the city was required to indemnify him. Dominguez v. Hendley, No. 07-1004, 2008 U.S. App. Lexis 20577 (7th Cir.).
     A man accused of murdering his wife had charges dropped when a medical exam determined that she died of natural causes. Prosecutors, however, had absolute immunity on their decision to charge him, and an officer who testified during grand jury proceedings had absolute witness immunity. Further, probable cause to arrest existed at the time of the arrest. Andros v. Gross, No. 07-2259, 2008 U.S. App. Lexis 20187 (Unpub. 3rd Cir.).
     Three former police officers filed a federal civil rights lawsuit arising from the Los Angeles Police Department's investigation and prosecution of them after they were implicated in wrongdoing by a former LAPD officer in an event that was known as the "Rampart Scandal." The three plaintiff officers were acquitted and claimed that the defendants, including prosecutors, the city, and the former chief of police conducted an improper and negligent investigation, and that they had been arrested without probable cause for falsifying a police report and conspiring to file such a report. While claims against the prosecutor and county were dismissed, a jury returned a verdict against the city and former police chief for damages of $5,000,001 for each of the officers. Upholding these awards, an appeals court noted that the jury found violations of the officers' constitutional rights, and that the violations stemmed from the city's official policy. The appeals court further noted that the former police chief was an authorized policymaker, and was "instrumental" in instituting the proceedings against the plaintiffs, with an alleged policy of preparing more cases for the filing of charges against officers in a quick manner, with or without probable cause. This, the court concluded, could have been found by a reasonable jury to have resulted in the officers' arrests. Harper v. City of Los Angeles, No. 06-55519, 2008 U.S. App. Lexis 14892 (9th Cir.).
     Twenty years after an arrestee was convicted of assault, rape, and robbery, a medical examiner determined, from evidence in a rape kit, that he was innocent of these offenses. Because the arrestee had presented an alibi and there was a lack of physical evidence linking him to the incident, the court ruled that his claim that police officers and prosecutors pressured eyewitnesses into making false identifications, failed to produce the rape kit and other exculpatory evidence, and failed to investigate a suspect named by the victim was sufficient to present a claim that they acted in bad faith. The plaintiff could proceed with his malicious prosecution claims, and any claims concerning the rape kit were not time-barred because of the defendants' alleged deliberate deception in falsely stating that they searched for, but did not find, the rape kit. Newton v. City of New York, No. 07 Civ. 6211, 2008 U.S. Dist. Lexis 54084 (S.D.N.Y.).
     A father sued police and the county for allegedly maliciously prosecuting his son for marijuana trafficking, resulting in the son's suspension from a university, and the son's suicide. A decision by a lower court ruling that the officer involved in the incident did not act in bad faith barred any claim against the officer as an individual. The father failed to establish, according to the appeals court, that there was any pattern of constitutional violations by the county, such as inadequate training. His challenge to the state university's disciplinary policies, seeking injunctive relief, was properly denied, as he failed to show any credible threat that he would face future injury from the continued application of the policy. Plinton v. County of Summit, No. 7-3985, 2008 U.S. App. Lexis 18723 (6th Cir.).
     Arrestee failed to establish that the arresting officer improperly influenced a prosecutor to charge him with resisting arrest because of a complaint he had previously filed against the officer. The arrestee also failed to show that officers' searches of his garage and home were unreasonable. Peals v. Terre Haute Police Dept., No. 07-2804, 2008 U.S. App. Lexis 15875 (7th Cir.).
     A man allegedly arrested on false charges based on fabricated or "planted" evidence of cocaine could seek nominal damages based on a three day period during which he was allegedly jailed only for these "fabricated charges," but after those three days was essentially serving a 25-year sentence on an unrelated murder conviction, and therefore did not suffer any compensable injury from his continued confinement. Eloy v. Guillot, No. 07-13818, 2008 U.S. App. Lexis 14730 (Unpub. 11th Cir.).
     When the plaintiff arrestees were indicted by a grand jury, this created a presumption of probable cause. When they failed to create a triable issue of fact to rebut that presumption, the trial court properly granted summary judgment in a malicious prosecution and wrongful arrest lawsuit. Chetrick v. Cohen, No. 2007-03069, 2008 N.Y. App. Div. Lexis 4914 (A.D. 2nd Dept.).
     Two arrestees were twice prosecuted for murder, unsuccessfully, and later sued, claiming that officers based their arrests and caused their prosecutions by coercing fellow gang members into making false statements implicating them. Upholding a denial of qualified immunity, the appeals court found that, with the allegedly false information set aside, nothing remained in the affidavits to support probable cause for the arrests. Accepting, for purposes of the analysis, the facts asserted by the plaintiffs, the officers intentionally coerced false statements to support the arrests and prosecutions, and no reasonable officer could have believed that there was probable cause for the arrests and prosecutions without the allegedly false statements. Wilkins v. DeReyes, No. 06-2245, 2008 U.S. App. Lexis 12676 (10th Cir.).
     Two police departments, two counties, a district attorney, and a correctional facility were all entitled to summary judgment in an arrestee's lawsuit for malicious prosecution because he failed to show the necessary elements of a lack of probable cause, actual malice, and a favorable termination of the criminal proceeding in his favor. Rush v. County of Nassau, No. 2007-04522, 2008 N.Y. App. Div. Lexis 4183 (2nd Dept.).
     An FBI agent who turned over potentially exculpatory evidence to a prosecutor fulfilled her non-discretionary duty in doing so, and the federal government could not be held liable under the Federal Tort Claims Act, 28 U.S.C. Secs. 1346(b)(1) and 2671 et seq. for alleged wrongful prosecution of the plaintiff for engaging in a sexual act with a person under the age of twelve on an Indian reservation. The plaintiff's conviction for the offense was overturned based on the prosecutor's failure to turn that exculpatory evidence over to the defense. Once the FBI agent presented the exculpatory evidence to the prosecutor, however, her actions satisfied due process. Further, a private party in Montana, the location of the case, who acted as the FBI agent did, would not have been liable for the prosecutor's subsequent failure to turn over the material to the defense. Gray v. Dept. of Justice, No. 07-35171, 2008 U.S. App. Lexis 9597 (Unpub. 9th Cir.).
     A prosecution against an arrestee for alleged embezzlement of auto parts from his employer's store did not terminate in his favor when the case was "retired to file" after he agreed to pay for the parts and court costs, so that he could not pursue his malicious prosecution claim. Brabham v. Waide & Associates PA, No. 06-61092, 2008 U.S. App. Lexis 8230 (5th Cir.).
     Police officers were entitled to summary judgment in a lawsuit by an arrestee claiming malicious prosecution, among other things. The plaintiff had been acquitted of assault upon one of the officers, but was convicted of other charges of carrying a weapon, resisting arrest, and aggravated assault. A grand jury's finding of probable cause barred the plaintiff's claim for malicious prosecution. Cook v. McPherson, No. 07-5552, 2008 U.S. App. Lexis 7705 (6th Cir.).
     After a prosecution against a motorist for careless driving was dismissed, she sued the city for malicious prosecution. That claim was rejected, based on a finding that officers had probable cause to issue her the citation, since her vehicle struck the back of another car, and the officers had interviewed both the motorist and the other driver. Orban v. City of Tampa, Florida, No. 07-12635, 2008 U.S. App. Lexis 3724 (11th Cir.).
     The fact that a retest of evidence in a DUI case a year later showed a lower blood alcohol level did not negate the fact that officers and a prosecutor had a basis to prosecute the arrestee for intoxicated driving on the basis of blood samples and the tests results at the time of the arrest. Blood alcohol levels for such tests often decrease over time when samples are stored and retested, so that the variance in test results was most probably based on a "normal decrease" given the passage of time. Qualified immunity was granted to the defendants, including crime lab officials and employees. Kjellsen v. Mills, No. 07-11918, 2008 U.S. App. Lexis 3645 (11th Cir.).
     In a lawsuit by an arrestee claiming that a deputy sheriff had planted drugs which were used to give him a citation for possession of marijuana, resulting in a fine, the trial court acted properly in dismissing the lawsuit under Heck v. Humphrey, #93-6188, 512 U.S. 477 (1994).  An award of damages in the case would have implied the invalidity of the plaintiff's criminal petty-misdemeanor conviction and the fine, which had not been overturned or otherwise invalidated. Abdullah v. Minnesota, No. 06-4142, 2008 U.S. App. Lexis 2448 (8th Cir.).
     In a malicious prosecution due process lawsuit against a police detective and the plaintiff's ex-wife, the plaintiff claimed that he had been deprived in bad faith of a fair trial on charges concerning the alleged molestation of his adopted daughter. The detective, who had investigated the molestation accusation, was also the current husband of the plaintiff's ex-wife, and allegedly steered the investigation to benefit his wife. He allegedly failed to tell prosecutors the "full extent" of his relationship with the plaintiff's ex-wife, and also allegedly did not preserve the purported victim's diary, which did not support the molestation claim. A federal appeals court rejected an argument that the detective was entitled to summary judgment, since no reasonable officer could have believed that these alleged actions were proper. White v. McKinley, No. 07-1002, 2008 U.S. App. Lexis 1930 (8th Cir.).
     At the time of his arrest, officers had probable cause to charge a man with selling cocaine, on the basis of statements from an informant concerning a "controlled buy." While charges were not filed for four months, the plaintiff in a malicious prosecution lawsuit failed to show that a sheriff, during that time period, was made aware of any information contradicting the informant's information or which otherwise showed that probable cause no longer was present for the prosecution. McCloud v. Fortune, No. 07-10850, 2008 U.S. App. Lexis 1091 (11th Cir.).
    A twelve-year-old child was interrogated away from his mother and a prosecutor then ordered police to arrest him in connection with the death of a toddler. His conviction was subsequently overturned on the basis of a coerced confession in violation of the Fifth Amendment. He subsequently filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the prosecutor and her employer for alleged violations of the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments. After the lawsuit was filed, the prosecutor allegedly told a Marine recruiter that the plaintiff would "always" be a suspect in the murder, resulting in the rejection of his enlistment. A federal appeals court overturned qualified immunity for the prosecutor, ruling that the prosecutor could not reasonably have believed that there was probable cause for the arrest. The court also ordered further proceedings on claims against the county based on its alleged withholding of exculpatory (Brady) materials, and on the Plaintiff's malicious prosecution, First Amendment retaliation, and defamation claims. Harris v. Bornhorst, No. 06-3729, 2008 U.S. App. Lexis 724 (6th Cir.).
     Dismissal of criminal charges against an arrestee was a favorable termination of the proceedings in his favor for purposes of his malicious prosecution claims against the county when the dismissal was based on a failure to prosecute and an imminent violation of the right to a speedy trial. Rivas v. Suffolk County, No. 04-4813, 2008 U.S. App. Lexis 72 (2nd Cir.).
     The question of whether there was probable cause of prosecute an arrestee for resisting arrest depended on whether the arrestee or an officer was telling the truth about whether the arrestee pushed an officer, which should be decided by a jury in his malicious prosecution lawsuit. Holmes v. Village of Hoffman Estates, No. 06-2759, 2007 U.S. App. Lexis 29699 (7th Cir.).
     Arrestee failed to show malicious prosecution when he was arrested under a warrant based on witness statements accusing him of involvement in a burglary, and he was prosecuted for a controlled substance on the basis of bags of a white powdery substance found in his jacket in an apartment. The fact that the substance subsequently tested negative for a controlled substance did not alter the result. Moore v. Carteret Police Dept., No. 07-2840, 2007 U.S. App. Lexis 26232 (3rd Dist.).
     A federal trial judge has awarded $101.7 million against the U.S. government on claims that the FBI was "responsible for the framing of four innocent men" for murder, causing them to serve decades for a crime they did not commit. Four men falsely convicted of a 1965 gangland murder, and their estates and families asserted claims against the U.S. government under the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA), 28 U.S.C. Secs. 1346 and 2671-2680 for malicious prosecution, civil conspiracy, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and related claims. The trial court rejected the argument that the U.S. government was entitled to immunity based on the discretionary function exception to liability in 28 U.S.C. Sec. 2680(a). The FBI's alleged conduct in knowingly allowing an informant to provide perjurious testimony in the murder trial, failing to reveal exculpatory evidence, and failing to disclose information about the actual murderers for a period of thirty years was unconstitutional and violated its own rules, the judge ruled. The court found that the FBI's conduct was the cause of the convictions, and that the conduct met the standard for intentional infliction of emotional distress, as the alleged actions violated all standards of decency and were intentional. The family members of the convicted persons were entitled to damages, under Massachusetts law for bystanders' intentional infliction of emotional distress. $1 million for each year of imprisonment was awarded to the men falsely convicted, or their estates. The minor children of the convicted men, and three of the wives of the convicted men were also awarded damages, as were an adult child of one of the men, and a wife who divorced one of the men. Two of the four men are now deceased, while two of them are still alive. Limone v. U.S., No. 02cv10890-NG, 2007 U.S. Dist. Lexis 54224 (D. Mass.). [Editor's Note: The total damages awarded were $101.7 million].
     Police officers were not entitled to summary judgment in a lawsuit claiming that they denied the plaintiff his constitutional rights by concealing allegedly exculpatory evidence. The plaintiff spent over 17 years incarcerated for a double homicide that he insists he did not commit, and he claims that Illinois state police officers, from the beginning, knowingly possessed and concealed evidence of his innocence and never disclosed this evidence to him, throughout his trial, his appeals, and most of his post-conviction proceedings. He was finally released in 2004 after a federal court concluded that "acquittal was reasonably probable if the jury had heard all of the evidence." The lawsuit further claims that Illinois state police officials who were not involved in the case at the beginning learned about the existing exculpatory evidence and that the state had possessed this evidence all along, but that, rather than advise a state appeals court that the state had prosecuted the wrong man, they "kept mum and took steps actively to conceal the exculpatory evidence." Qualified immunity, the federal appeals court ruled, was not available to the defendants because the due process right of a defendant to be told about exculpatory evidence is clearly established in Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83 (1963) and the cases which follow it. Steidl v. Fermon, No. 06-2017 2007 U.S. App. Lexis 16996 (7th Cir.).
     Even if the plaintiff's now-overturned conviction for armed robbery was based on the erroneous introduction of testimony about a station house eyewitness identification which was allegedly improperly conducted, it was the decisions of the prosecutor and trial judge, not the actions of the police officer, which caused the violation of the plaintiff's constitutional rights, so the officer could not be held liable. Additionally, because the officer's conduct with respect to the identification did not cause any violation of the plaintiff's rights, any alleged failure by the city to adequately train him on the subject of identifications did not cause a deprivation, and a judgment as a matter of law should be entered on his claims against the city. Wray v. City of New York, No. 05-3341, 2007 U.S. App. Lexis 14302 (2nd Cir.).
     An arrestee who was awarded $275,000 in damages ($25,000 compensatory and $250,000 in punitive) on claims that he was "framed" and maliciously prosecuted on a firearms charge, and that excessive force was used against him by an officer who shot him in the buttocks, was also entitled to an award of attorneys' fees and costs of $507,000. The defendant city failed to convince a federal appeals court that the trial judge had abused his discretion in refusing to lower the amount of attorneys' fees awarded. The court rejected the city's argument that the plaintiff's success should be viewed as "minimal," requiring a reduction in the attorneys' fees award because the jury award was less than the amount of damages the plaintiff sought. Additionally, the court stated that the plaintiff's success should not simply be viewed in monetary terms. ''He effectively persuaded a jury that a significant number of City of Harvey officials conspired to plant a gun at the crime scene -- a victory that serves the public interest by exposing to light disturbing police malfeasance and grave municipal institutional failures, and one that will presumably help to deter future constitutional violations by the city's officers,'' the court stated. ''These achievements are anything but minimal.'' Robinson v. City of Harvey, No. 04-3993 2007 U.S. App. Lexis 13705 (7th Cir.).
     Police officers had probable cause to arrest and prosecute a suspect after a woman identified him as her assailant, and that probable cause defeated a malicious prosecution claim under Illinois law. Lockheart v. Drapiewski, No. 05-2816, 2007 U.S. App. Lexis 9865 (7th Cir.).
     In a malicious prosecution claim, the mere fact that there were grounds for prosecution on one of the charges pursued, standing alone, did not bar the possibility of liability for pursuing other criminal charges. Johnson v. Knorr, No. 05-5029, 2007 U.S. App. Lexis 3242 (3d Cir.).[N/R]
     In malicious prosecution lawsuit, prosecutor was entitled to absolute immunity for all his actions, including his decisions as to which witnesses to call before the grand jury which indicted the plaintiff. Redwood v. Dobson, No. 05-4324, 2007 U.S. App. Lexis 2606 (7th Cir.).[N/R]
     In lawsuit brought by man who spent 22 years on death row for a kidnapping, rape, and murder he was subsequently cleared of, detectives were not entitled to qualified immunity on claims that they acted in bad faith in essentially destroying exculpatory DNA evidence. Prosecutors in the case were not entitled to absolute immunity on similar claims that they destroyed exculpatory evidence. Yarris v. County of Delaware, No. 05-1319, 465 F.3d 129 (3d Cir. 2006). [2006 LR Dec]
     A presumption of probable cause arising from a grand jury indictment applied to an arrestee's claim against an officer for malicious prosecution, but there were genuine issues of fact as to whether the officer obtained the indictment through perjury or bad faith, barring summary judgment for the officer. Additionally, the court finds that the presumption of probable cause applied from the indictment returned by a second grand jury, even though a first grand jury returned a "No True Bill" against the plaintiff. McClellan v. Smith, No. 04-5996-CV, 439 F.3d 137 (2nd Cir. 2006). [N/R]
     Plaintiffs did not show, for purposes of a malicious prosecution claim, that the criminal proceedings terminated in their favor, since they entered into guilty pleas on certain charges. Further, the law enforcement officers who stopped them had a reasonable suspicion that they may have been hunting in an improper zone. Heverly v. Simcox, No. 4:05-1370, 2006 U.S. Dist. Lexis 73990 (M.D. Pa.). [N/R]
     In police officer's lawsuit under the Federal Tort Claims Act, 28 U.S.C. Sec. 2680, against an IRS agent who obtained his arrest and prosecution, summary judgment was properly granted on false imprisonment and malicious prosecution claims. A presumption of probable cause which arose from the arrestee's indictment was not rebutted for purposes of the malicious prosecution claim when there was no evidence that the IRS agent lied in his testimony before a federal grand jury. Conrad v. U.S., No. 04-15402, 447 F. 3d 760 (9th Cir. 2006). [N/R]
     County environmental health employees were entitled to summary judgment in malicious prosecution lawsuit when the county prosecutor made the decision to prosecute the plaintiffs. Additionally, the prosecutor's subsequent decision to dismiss the charges did not qualify as a favorable termination of the case in favor of the plaintiffs. Ayala v. KC Environmental Health, No. CV F 02-5846, 426 F. Supp. 2d 1070 (E.D. Cal. 2006). [N/R]
     Acquitted murder suspect's allegation that Chicago police detectives conspired to frame him and several others for a murder they did not commit did not constitute a valid civil RICO claim despite the scheme purportedly involving multiple criminal acts, over a period of years, and targeting multiple victims, when there was no indication that the detectives engaged in any misconduct before or after the alleged scheme, or threatened to do so in the future. Under these circumstances, there was no "pattern" of racketeering activity. Gamboa v. Velez, No. 05-1690, 2006 U.S. App. Lexis 20493 (7th Cir.). [2006 LR Oct]
     When no reasonable jury could find a lack of probable cause, there was a complete defense to an arrestee's false arrest and malicious prosecution claims under both federal and New York state law. Maron v. County of Albany, No. 05-3354, 166 Fed. Appx. 540 (2nd Cir. 2006). [N/R]
     The mere fact that an arrested motorist's version of an incident differed from that of the deputy who arrested him was insufficient to defeat summary judgment for the deputy on a malicious prosecution claim. In the absence of a showing that the deputy interfered with the prosecutor's independent judgment in pursuing criminal charges, the prosecutor's decision to file a criminal complaint is the exercise of independent judgment that there was probable cause for the arrest. Newman v. County of Orange, No. 04-56103, 2006 U.S. App. Lexis 20130 (9th Cir.). [2006 LR Sep]
     Arrestee was not entitled to injunctive relief against his pending criminal prosecution under 42 U.S.C. Sec. 1983 when he failed to show that the prosecution was being carried out in bad faith and for purposes of harassment. His claim that his prosecution for an alleged bribery was selective, politically motivated and based on the use of false testimony was insufficient to show such bad faith. Olson v. Fajardo-Velez, No. 05-1837, 419 F. Supp. 2d 32 (D. Puerto Rico 2006). [N/R]
     An officer who testified at a grand jury proceeding against an arrestee, and who turned over to a prosecutor all evidence he knew of, including all exculpatory evidence, was entitled to absolute immunity from federal civil rights liability for malicious prosecution. Zamora v. City of Belen, No. Civ. 03-743, 383 F. Supp. 2d 1315 (D.N.M. 2005). [N/R]
     Conservation officers had probable cause to seek prosecution of man who allegedly pointed a gun at them after criticizing their job performance, and they were entitled to qualified immunity on his malicious prosecution and First Amendment retaliation claims, given that he was subsequently convicted on some of the charges he was indicted on based on their grand jury testimony. Barnes v. Wright, No. 04-6288, 449 F.3d 709 (6th Cir. 2006). [2006 LR Aug]
     Man's actions in taking photographs in front of the home of a person who had obtained a protective order against him provided officer with arguable probable cause to initiate a criminal prosecution against him for harassment in the second degree, entitling the officer to qualified immunity in a resulting malicious prosecution lawsuit. The arrestee's actions could have been viewed by a reasonable officer as constituting a threat of further violence. Jaegly v. Couch, No. 05-2191, 168 Fed. Appx. 480 (2nd Cir. 2006). [N/R]
     U.S. Supreme Court: a civil rights lawsuit for retaliatory prosecution in violation of a person's First Amendment rights must be based on, among other things, the absence of probable cause to prosecute for the asserted criminal charges. Hartman v. Moore, No. 04-1495, 126 S. Ct. 1695 (2006). [2006 LR Jul]
     There was probable cause for the arrest and prosecution of a police officer for reckless endangerment while off-duty, so that he could not pursue a claim against the city for malicious prosecution. The officer himself admitted that he operated his motorcycle in a reckless manner and fled from other officers while speeding and improperly changing lanes to travel southbound in a northbound lane. Winn v. McQuillan, No. 03 Civ.2210, 390 F. Supp. 2d 385 (S.D.N.Y. 2005). [N/R]
     Despite her claim that her first conviction for rape and sodomy, subsequently set aside, was caused by county prosecutors withholding exculpatory materials in violation of her due process rights, she could not pursue her federal civil rights claim for malicious prosecution when she was again found guilty of lesser charges and sentenced to time served on retrial. The plaintiff could not show, based on these facts, that the criminal prosecution had terminated in manner favorable to her. Stein v. County of Westchester, No. 05 Civ. 3729, 410 F. Supp. 2d 175 (S.D.N.Y. 2006). [N/R]
     Officer had probable cause to swear out a criminal complaint against a homeowner for animal fighting and cruelty to animals. Officer was not liable for malicious prosecution when he based his complaint on a sworn witness statement concerning dogfights, and his own observation that the dogs in question had scars consistent with such fights. Garraway v. Newcomb, No. 04-4626, 154 Fed. Appx. 258 (2nd Cir. 2005). [N/R]
     Decision of prosecutor to dismiss charges against arrestee, not reached as part of any plea bargain, was not sufficient, under Connecticut law, standing alone, to constitute a favorable termination allowing the arrestee to proceed with a malicious prosecution lawsuit. Holman v. Cascio, No. 3:02CV1523, 390 F. Supp. 2d 120 (D. Conn. 2005). [N/R]
     Excessive force, unreasonable search, and invasion of privacy claims were properly dismissed as time-barred under Texas two-year statute of limitations, but false arrest and malicious prosecution claims would not accrue until criminal prosecution against arrestee terminated in his favor. These claims, therefore, were not time-barred, and might be able to be re-filed after the prosecution of the plaintiff concluded. Price v. City of San Antonio, No. 04-51213, 2005 U.S. App. Lexis 26539 (5th Cir.). [2006 LR Feb]
     A man arrested for intoxication while burning trash on his business property could not pursue his malicious prosecution claim under Pennsylvania law when he failed to show that the prosecution terminated in a manner favorable to him. He was given a citation for a summary offense upon being released from custody, and his wife allegedly sent in the required payment for the citation without his approval or knowledge. Despite his dispute as to whether she had authority to do so, the fact remained that the proceeding was terminated in favor of the municipality. Walker v. North Wales Borough, No. Civ. A. 05-CV-0425, 395 F. Supp. 2d 219 (E.D. Pa. 2005). [N/R]
     Arrestee failed to show that arresting officers violated his due process rights by allegedly suppressing evidence concerning the details of his arrest, when that evidence was not material to the criminal charges he faced. He therefore could not pursue his malicious prosecution claims, and he abandoned any Fourth Amendment false arrest claim that he may have had. Ienco v. Angarone, No. 03-4193, 2005 U.S. App. Lexis 24467 (7th Cir.). [2006 LR Jan]
     In police officer's malicious prosecution lawsuit claiming that he was improperly prosecuted following the death of an arrestee, he could not pursue claims against the county based on the actions of the county coroner, as the coroner was not a county policymaker, but instead only had the authority to make factual determinations as to a decedent's cause of death. Jorg v. City of Cincinnati, #04-4039, 145 Fed. Appx. 143 (6th Cir. 2005). [N/R]
     City had probable caused to prosecute an employee for aggravated harassment, despite subsequent dismissal of charges for lack of "specificity of threat," when police officer received information that employee sent letters indicating that he was willing to do "anything," including "more serious acts" to attempt to get a favorable outcome in an employment discrimination case. Dorn v. Maffei, No. 02 CIV.2001, 386 F. Supp. 2d 479 (S.D.N.Y. 2005). [N/R]
     Man arrested for harassment adequately stated claims for malicious prosecution and false arrest, alleging facts that would show his arrest and prosecution were not supported by probable cause. Sirlin v. Town of New Castle, 790 N.Y.S. 2d 484 (A.D. 2nd Dept. 2005). [N/R]
      Officers' initial withholding of police reports from defense attorney in prosecution of 16-year-old for murder of 9-year-old boy did not result in prejudice to his defense, precluding his federal civil rights claim. Civil rights claim was also barred by prior determination, in his appeal of his criminal conviction, that no prejudice occurred. No liability despite subsequent release of plaintiff after new evidence exonerated him of the crime. Johnson v. Mahoney, #04-1745, 2005 U.S. App. Lexis 20111 (1st Cir.). [2005 LR Nov]
    Arresting officer's observation of motorist swerving his vehicle while driving, the odor of alcohol on the driver's breath, and the fact that the driver failed a field sobriety test provided probable cause for an arrest and prosecution, precluding a malicious prosecution claim. Joseph v. West Manheim Police Dept., No. 04-3828, 131 Fed. Appx. 833 (3rd Cir. 2005). [N/R]
     Deputy was not entitled to either absolute or qualified immunity on malicious prosecution claim when there were genuine issues of fact as to whether he fabricated the evidence which resulted in the prosecution of an arrestee for battery on him. Chweya v. Baca, #03-56226, 130 Fed. Appx. 865 (9th Cir. 2005). [N/R]
     Dismissal of plaintiff's suit under the Federal Tort Claims Act is affirmed where a reasonable factfinder could conclude that plaintiff has failed to show that defendants assaulted or maliciously prosecuted him under Ohio law. Harris v. U.S., No. 04-3520, 2005 U.S. App. Lexis 19058 (6th Cir.). [2005 LR Oct]
     A motorist could not pursue a claim for damages for alleged malicious prosecution for a traffic infraction in the absence that his conviction or sentence had been reversed on appeal, expunged, declared invalid or otherwise set aside. Koger v. Florida, No. 04-15649, 130 Fed. Appx. 327 (11th Cir. 2005). [N/R]
     Grand jury indictment showed that prosecution of suspect for possessing a gambling device was supported by probable cause, entitling officer who gave grand jury testimony to qualified immunity in suspect's subsequent malicious prosecution lawsuit. The suspect did not claim that the officer had lied during his grand jury testimony, and the indictment created a presumption, which was unrebutted, of probable cause to prosecute. Matheis v. Fritton, No. 03-7719-CV, 128 Fed. Appx. 787 (2nd Cir. 2005). [N/R]
    Arrest of former police officer under warrant charging him with theft of funds while in office was supported by probable cause, entitling defendants to summary judgment on false arrest and malicious prosecution claims. Voyticky v. Village of Timberlake, No. 04-3252, 2005 U.S. App. Lexis 11948 (6th Cir.). [2005 LR Aug]
     Issuance of a citation requiring two men to appear in court on charges of trespass did not constitute a Fourth Amendment "seizure," and therefore they could not pursue a federal civil rights lawsuit for malicious prosecution after the charges were subsequently dismissed. Jury award of $173,237 in damages was properly vacated. DiBella v. Borough of Beachwood, No. 03-4892, 407 F.3d 599 (3d Cir. 2005). [2005 LR Jul]
     While a one-year statute of limitations applied to an arrestee's malicious prosecution claim under Illinois law, the statute started to run not at the time criminal charges against him were first dismissed, since they could have still been reinstated, but rather at the time when a statutory speedy trial period lapsed, and the prosecutor was barred from continuing to seek to prosecute him. Ferguson v. City of Chicago, No. 97218, 820 N.E.2d 455 (Ill. 2004). [N/R]
     Probable cause existed for arrest and prosecution of man for bank robbery after which he was identified as the robber from surveillance photographs by his former wife and subsequently identified by a bank teller as the robber from a clear photograph of six men. Trial court therefore properly dismissed malicious prosecution claim against U.S. government under the Federal Tort Claims Act, 28 U.S.C. Sec. 1346 and 2671. Waller v. United States, No. 03-20877, 100 Fed. Appx. 254 (5th Cir. 2004). [N/R]
     Detective who arrested suspect for alleged drug trafficking was entitled to qualified immunity from false arrest and malicious prosecution claims when a reasonable officer could have found probable cause for the arrest based on circumstantial evidence, including the presence of drugs and drug paraphernalia, including a drug scale, found in a bedroom believed to be the suspect's. Further, the arrestee was subsequently released, with the charges against him dropped, when exonerating evidence was presented. Devatt v. Lohenitz, No. Civ.A.03-CV-5558, 338 F. Supp. 2d 588 (E.D.Pa. 2004). [N/R]
     Arrestee did not present viable claims for wrongful arrest or malicious prosecution when grand jury indicted him for alleged sexual molestation of a child, and there was no showing that the defendants misled the grand jury. Shields v. Twiss, No. 03-51171, 2004 U.S. App. Lexis 22059 (5th Cir. 2004). [2005 LR Jan]
     Indictment of arrestee for second-degree attempted murder charge barred his claims for false arrest and malicious prosecution, in the absence of any proof that the indictment was returned because of a suppression of evidence, perjury, fraud, or other government misconduct. Rivas v. Suffolk County, No. CV95-387, 326 F. Supp. 2d 355 (E.D.N.Y. 2004). [N/R]
     Officer was entitled to qualified immunity in motorist's lawsuit asserting claims for malicious prosecution and false arrest based on a pursuit that concluded with the motorist's vehicle colliding with a fire hydrant. Based on the motorist pleading guilty to disorderly conduct charges in exchange for the dismissal of other charges against him, the plaintiff could not show that the prosecution terminated in his favor or that the officer did not have probable cause for the arrest. Timmins v. Toto, No. 02-9206, 91 Fed. Appx. 165 (2nd Cir. 2004). [N/R]
     Despite a man's acquittal on a charge of murdering his spouse, his conviction on charges of domestic violence arising out of the same facts showed that there was probable cause for his arrest and prosecution, barring his claim for malicious prosecution. Garrett v. Fisher Titus Hospital, 318 F. Supp. 2d 562 (N.D. Ohio 2004). [N/R]
     Arrestee's indictment by a grand jury established a rebuttable presumption that his arrest was supported by probable cause, which barred his claim for malicious prosecution, in the absence of any showing that the indictment was obtained by bad faith police conduct, suppression of evidence by the officers, or was the product of perjury or fraud. Wiggins v. Buffalo Police Department, 320 F. Supp. 2d 53 (W.D.N.Y. 2004). [N/R]
     Police officer had probable cause to initiate criminal charges against the plaintiff based on statements he obtained from an off-duty officer who had been involved in a fight with the plaintiff, and an interview with a neighbor who had witnessed the incident, defeating any claim for malicious prosecution. A genuine issue, however, as to whether the off-duty officer acted in his capacity as an officer or purely as a private person during the fight precluded summary judgment on federal civil rights claims arising from the fight itself. Ousley v. Town of Lincoln Through Its Finance Dir., 313 F. Supp. 2d 78 (D.R.I. 2004). [N/R]
    Law enforcement officers who are accused, in lawsuit, of purposefully eliciting false testimony to frame three men for murder, and then participating in a cover-up to protect themselves and the real killers, one of whom was being "groomed" as an informer, were not entitled to qualified immunity. Such behavior, if true, violated clearly established law, even as long ago as 1967. Limone v. Condon, No. 03-2130, 2004 U.S. App. Lexis 11577 (1st Cir.). [2004 LR Jul]
     In the absence of a showing that the defendants initiated a prosecution against the plaintiff, he could not pursue a malicious prosecution claim under either federal or New York law. Further, alleged violations of New York state criminal law, standing alone, could not be the basis for a federal civil rights action. Hansel v. Brazell, #02-9433, 85 Fed. Appx. 237 (2nd Cir. 2004). [N/R]
     Police department forensic chemist could be sued for malicious prosecution for allegedly withholding exculpatory evidence and fabricating inculpatory evidence, even if she did not initiate the prosecution or make the decision to continue it. She was not entitled to qualified immunity in lawsuit brought by man who spent fifteen years in prison for a rape that DNA evidence now shows he did not commit. Pierce v. Gilchrist, No. 02-6241, 359 F.3d 1279 (10th Cir. 2004). [2004 LR May]
     Arrestee whose rape conviction was overturned after more than ten years of imprisonment failed to show that police officer named as defendant in his federal civil rights lawsuit took an active part in procuring or continuing his prosecution as required for malicious prosecution claim under Massachusetts state law. Miller v. City of Boston, 297 F. Supp. 2d 361 (D. Mass. 2003). [N/R]
     Losses that individual allegedly incurred as a result of wrongful incarceration on narcotics charges, including loss of employment and wages, were "personal injuries," rather than injuries to the plaintiff's business or property, so that he was not able to bring a lawsuit under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), 18 U.S.C. Sec. 1964(c) against city officials and police officers who allegedly conspired to falsely arrest and maliciously prosecute him. Guerrero v. Gates, #02-56017, 357 F.3d 911 (9th Cir. 2004). [N/R]
     FBI agents were not entitled to either absolute or qualified immunity on claims that they essentially "framed" a former informant on charges of kidnapping and murder by arranging for false evidence against him which led to convictions and sentences of life imprisonment and death respectively, which subsequently were overturned. Plaintiff claimed that these actions were in retaliation for his decision to stop being an informant. Manning v. Miller, #02C372, 355 F. 3d 1028 (7th Cir. 2004). [2004 LR Apr]
     Officers had probable cause to arrest suspect when complaining witness stated that the arrestee had stabbed him several times with an awl during an argument and that the arrestee was the aggressor. Additionally, the arrestee's subsequent indictment for assault created a presumption of probable cause for the arrest which the plaintiff arrestee failed to overcome in his false imprisonment and malicious prosecution lawsuit. Jenkins v. City of New York, 770 N.Y.S.2d 22 (A.D. 1st Dept. 2003). [N/R]
     Police officers' alleged withholding from prosecutors of the fact that the arrestee had provided his identification to them when they requested it was insufficient to constitute the suppression of exculpatory evidence. Arrestee himself had that information. Further, this fact was only related to the issue of whether the arrest was proper and was irrelevant to the arrestee's conviction on extortion, racketeering, and firearms charges, and therefore irrelevant for purposes of his malicious prosecution claim. Summary judgment entered for defendant officers. Ienco v. Angarone, 291 F. Supp. 2d 755 (N.D. Ill. 2003). [N/R]
     Arrestee could not successfully seek damages based merely on a custodial interrogation without Mirada warnings when none of her elicited statements were ever used against her at trial. Federal appeals court also overturns $80,000 malicious prosecution award to arrestee, who claimed that officers filed false charges against her and maliciously pursued them in order to assist her officer boyfriend, who she accused of domestic abuse. Plaintiff's opening statement at trial put the question of the defendant officer's truthful character into issue, so it was prejudicial error to exclude evidence of that character. Renda v. King, #01-2421, 347 F.3d 550 (3rd Cir. 2003). [2004 LR Feb]
     Probable cause existed to arrest and prosecute plaintiff for harassment in allegedly faxing pictures with faces of a famous couple superimposed on the bodies of nude models based on many complaints made against him for allegedly faxing such photos, and his previous history of harassment of the famous couple [Marla Maples Trump and Donald J. Trump]. His federal civil rights claims were therefore properly dismissed. Jones v. Trump, #02-7650, 71 Fed. Appx. 873 (2nd Cir. 2003). [N/R]
     Arrestee's malicious prosecution claim was barred by a one-year statute of limitations for claims against a municipality. The cause of action against the city accrued, and one-year time period began to run when the charges against the arrestee were first "stricken with leave to reinstate," not when the 160-day time period for reinstating the charges expired. Ferguson v. City of Chicago, #1-02-2463, 795 N.E.2d 984 (Ill. App. 1st Dist. 2003). [N/R]
      City employee indicted and prosecuted for the theft of a ring from a crime scene failed to show that his indictment was obtained as the result of police conduct carried out in bad faith, and therefore failed to rebut a presumption of probable cause which arose from his indictment, defeating his malicious prosecution claim. There was no showing that supposedly exculpatory observations of the plaintiff by one officer at the crime scene were intentionally withheld from the prosecutor prior to the indictment. Savino v. City of New York, No. 02-7108, 331 F.3d 63 (2nd Cir. 2003). [N/R]
     Arrestee who was awarded $80,000 in jury verdict for city's prosecution of him for obstruction of justice without probable cause was properly awarded attorneys' fees, but trial court applied the wrong legal standard in reducing the award of attorneys' fees to $95,507 based on the hours attorneys spent on plaintiff's unsuccessful claims. Webb v. Sloan, No. 01-16855, 330 F.3d 1158 (9th Cir. 2003). [2003 LR Sep]
    Dismissal without prejudice of loitering charge against defendant on the basis that the charging document was based on hearsay from an unidentified source was not a "favorable termination" of the charges sufficient to allow the pursuit of a malicious prosecution claim under New York law against the arresting officer. Neal v. Fitzpatrick, No. CV-6209-NG-WDW, 250 F. Supp. 2d 153 (E.D.N.Y. 2003). [N/R]
     Plaintiff adequately alleged factual issues of whether county police officer knowingly presented false information in an affidavit of probable cause that resulted in a criminal complaint against him in retaliation for his opposition to the county's alleged discrimination against disabled persons. Douris v. Schweiker, No. 02-1749, 229 F. Supp. 2d 391 (E.D. Pa. 2002). [N/R]
     Prosecutor was entitled to absolute immunity for alleged suppression of exculpatory evidence in criminal prosecution and alleged instructions to witness to falsely implicate defendant during murder trial. Federal appeals court rejects argument that it should adopt an exception to prosecutorial immunity for "egregiousness" in cases of "drastic and systematic departure" from the proper exercise of prosecutorial power. Cousin v. Small, No. 01-30745, 325 F.3d 627 (5th Cir. 2003). [N/R]
     Arrestee allegedly misidentified as seller of drugs in undercover drug "buy" by police officers did not show that police officers failed to follow their standard operating procedures for identification, and therefore could not pursue her malicious prosecution claim against the state of New York, since nothing supported her assertion that the officers acted intentionally or recklessly in misidentifying her. Harris v. State of New York, 756 N.Y.S. 2d 302 (A.D. 3rd Dept. 2003). [N/R]
     Department of Motor Vehicles investigator was entitled to qualified immunity in federal civil rights malicious prosecution claim since the investigator informed the prosecutor in a timely fashion that the arrestee was innocent of the charge of possessing a "forged instrument" when he tried to exchange a valid U.S. Virgin Islands driver's license for a New York license. Record of Virgin Islands license's issuance could not be found at the time of the arrest, but showed up later, so there was probable cause for the arrest. Kinzer v. Jackson, #01-0157, 316 F.3d 139 (2nd Cir. 2003). [N/R]
     A reasonable officer could have believed that there was probable cause to prosecute an attorney for concealing evidence when he advised a client being investigated for involvement in a hit and run accident that he could move his vehicle as long as evidence was preserved. Officers were entitled to qualified immunity from attorney's malicious prosecution claims. Tittle v. Raines, 231 F. Supp. 2d 537 (N.D. Tex. 2002). [N/R]
     Federal appeals court upholds $3.5 million damage award for alleged malicious prosecution of restaurant owner for arson of one of his restaurants. Off-duty police officer who worked for restaurant as security officer and a former restaurant employee who allegedly conspired with him to have the plaintiff arrested, convicted and sentenced are both found liable. Castellano v. Fragozo, #00-50591, 311 F.3d 689 (5th Cir. 2002). [2003 LR Mar]
     Three year statute of limitations for both Maryland state and federal malicious prosecution claims by inmate wrongfully incarcerated for rape and murder started to run on the date that the criminal proceedings terminated in his favor, but the claims for false arrest and imprisonment accrued as of the date of the original arrest. Gray v. Maryland, 228 F. Supp. 2d 628 (D. Md. 2002). [N/R]
      Officer who investigated a mother's alleged assault of her teenage daughter was not liable for malicious prosecution when the mother provided no evidentiary support for her claim that the officer was untruthful in his trial testimony, and did not even show that he caused her to be prosecuted or arrested or seized her. Nothing in the record showed that the investigating officer had anything to do with the prosecution, in fact, after he submitted his report to the prosecutor's office. Skousen v. Brighton High School, #00-2170, 305 F.3d 520 (6th Cir. 2002). [2003 LR Feb.]
    Arizona Supreme Court upholds $1.4 million malicious prosecution jury award against city and police detective for pawn shop manager after dismissal of charges of theft and trafficking in stolen goods. Gonzales v. City of Phoenix, No. CV-01-0170-PR, 52 P.3d 184 (Ariz. 2002). [2003 LR Jan]
     Detective's affidavit, on the basis of which an arrest warrant was obtained to arrest a postal employee for retaliating against a witness, had sufficient facts to support probable cause even though it also contained exculpatory claims of the employee which would have negated probable cause if the judge had decided to believe his version of the incident. Detective was not liable for malicious prosecution. Lewis v. Rock, #01-1329, 48 Fed. Appx. 291 (10th Cir. 2002). [N/R]
     Officer had probable cause to proceed with charges against male high school student accused by female student of sexually assaulting her and later menacing her in violation of his conditions of release. Arrestee's contention that investigative network of police and prosecutors focusing on domestic violence and sexual abuse cases had an "anti-male" bias and a "secret, sinister agenda" was "unsupported speculation." Treon v. Whipple, 212 F. Supp. 2d 285 (D. Vt. 2002). [2002 LR Dec]
     Federal appeals court overturns $20,000 malicious prosecution award against sheriff's department arising from suspect's arrest for possession of marijuana with intent to distribute. The circumstances surrounding the plaintiff's acceptance of delivery of a package containing the drugs gave the officers probable cause to believe he was guilty of the charged offense. Gordy v. Burns, #01-30234, 294 F.3d 722 (5th Cir. 2002). [2002 LR Nov]
     State police officer was not liable for malicious prosecution or false arrest of man arrested for alleged criminal sexual conduct with a child on the basis of taking down "false information" from a deputy prison warden who called him. Arrestee did not show that officer was personally involved in the alleged violation of the arrestee's rights. Additionally, under Michigan law, the issue of probable cause was decided in court when the arrestee was bound over for trial at a preliminary hearing and he could not relitigate that issue. Morris v. Boyd, #01-1433, 39 Fed. Appx. 281 (6th Cir. 2002). [2002 LR Nov]
     Police officer lacked probable cause for pursuing prosecution of motorist a second time for allegedly having inadequate brakes on his vehicle since officer did not have either the training or authority to conduct a safety check of the motorist's vehicle. New trial granted on malicious prosecution claim. Hicks v. City of Buffalo, 745 N.Y.S.2d 349 (A.D. 2002). [N/R]
     Reversal of criminal convictions for larceny and unlawful practice of law on the basis that the Attorney General did not have the authority to prosecute the accused under the state law was not a "favorable termination" for the accused for purposes of a malicious prosecution lawsuit when there was probable cause for the criminal prosecution and the accused was indicted by a grand jury. Romero v. State of New York, 742 N.Y.S.2d 701 (A.D. 2002). [N/R]
     Police officers' alleged failure to follow some leads or to take accurate investigation notes in child sexual abuse investigation only showed possible carelessness, rather than the malice required to support a claim under New York law by an arrested day care aide for malicious prosecution. Ramos v. City of New York, 729 N.Y.S.2d 678 (A.D. 2001). [N/R]
      Malicious prosecution claims against officers, based on arrest pursuant to warrant, were not time-barred by Indiana's two-year statute of limitations since the claims did not accrue until the criminal prosecution was dismissed, rather than at the time of the arrest. Appeals court still upholds dismissal of claims against officers, however, in the absence of any allegation that they played an "essential or influential" role in obtaining the warrant or indictment. Snodderly v. R.U.F.F. Drug Enforcement Task Force, No. 99-3688, 239 F.3d 892 (7th Cir. 2001). [N/R]
     Jury awards $15 million to man incarcerated for 15 years for murder and armed robbery conviction based in part on lineup in which officers allegedly "manipulated" three witnesses to incorrectly identify the plaintiff as the criminal. Newsome v. James, No. 96C-7680, Oct. 29, 2001, U.S. Dist. Ct., N.D. Ill, reported in The National Law Journal, p. A1 (Nov. 12, 2001). [2002 LR Feb]
      Woman arrested for alleged narcotics sale to undercover officer stated a claim for false arrest and malicious prosecution when she alleged that she did not meet the description of the suspect sought, was arrested on the basis of an unreliable and suggestive one-person "show-up" identification, and officers had a videotape of the subject sought that they could have compared her appearance to. Hutchins v. Peterson, No. 2:00-CV-457, 139 F. Supp. 2d 575 (D. Vt. 2001). [2002 LR Jan]
     346:152 Federal appeals court rules that plaintiff did not have a constitutional claim for malicious prosecution separate from his Fourth Amendment false arrest, false imprisonment and unreasonable seizure claims; elements of a constitutional claim for malicious prosecution "cannot depend" on state law. Frantz v. Village of Bradford, No. 99- 4186, 245 F.3d 869 (6th Cir. 2001).
     EDITOR'S NOTE: The cases from other circuits cited by the majority panel decision above are:
     "Fourth Amendment analysis": Britton v. Maloney, #98-2092, 196 F.3d 24 (1st Cir. 1999); Gallo v. City of Philadelphia, #98-1071, 161 F.3d 217 (3d Cir. 1998); Brooks v. City of Winston-Salem, #94-7063, 85 F.3d 178 (4th Cir. 1996); Taylor v. Meacham, #95-4008, 82 F.3d 1556 (10th Cir. 1996); Whiting v. Traylor, #95-4268, 85 F.3d 581 (11th Cir. 1996).
     "State law elements analysis": Kerr v. Lyford, #97-41553, 171 F.3d 330 (5th Cir. 1999); Reed v. City of Chicago, #95-1606, 77 F.3d 1049 (7th Cir. 1996); Haupt v. Dillard, #92-15966, 17 F.3d 285 (9th Cir. 1994); and (illustrating the two different approaches the majority said the Second Circuit took): Cook v. Sheldon, #94-7282, 41 F.3d 73 (2d Cir. 1994) (state law elements analysis) and Singer v. Fulton County Sheriff, #94-9093, 63 F.3d 110 (2d Cir. 1995) (Fourth Amendment analysis).
     342:85 Officer liable for $35,000 for civil rights violation and false imprisonment of attorney arrested for alleged interference with apprehension of two of his clients; lawsuit asserted officer and prosecutor obtained arrest warrant based on false/misleading information; prosecutor also liable for $65,000. Etoch v. Newton, Ark., No. CIV-96-105, Phillips County Cir. Ct., Ark., Sept. 14, 2000, reported in ATLA Law Rptr. (Feb. 2001).
     340:60 Dismissal of criminal charges on statutory speedy trial grounds was a "favorable termination" of the charges in favor of the accused, sufficient to allow them to pursue a malicious prosecution lawsuit, highest court in New York rules. Smith-Hunter v. Harvey, 712 N.Y.S.2d 438 (N.Y. 2000).
     340:59 Even if the techniques used to interview child complainants were improper and coercive, nursery school teacher indicted and prosecuted for alleged sexual abuse of children could not recover damages since these interrogation techniques did not violate her own constitutional rights; prosecutors were entitled to absolute immunity for presenting children's testimony to grand jury and at trial. Michaels v. New Jersey, #99-5486, 222 F.3d 118 (3rd Cir. 2000).
     340:53 New York appellate court reduces total damages awarded for emotional distress, false arrest, and malicious prosecution from jury's award of $250,000 to $135,000, including reduction in punitive damages from
     $100,000 to $50,000. Lynch v. County of Nassau, 717 N.Y.S.2d 248 (A.D. 2000).
     338:19 Officer was entitled to official immunity against liability for malicious prosecution under Georgia state law for obtaining arrest warrants, in the absence of any proof that he acted with "actual malice" or intent to cause harm. Todd v. Kelly, No. A00A0712, 535 S.E.2d 540 (Ga. App. 2000).
     337:8 N.Y. state trooper was liable for compensatory and punitive damages for failure to turn over exculpatory materials to prosecutor which he developed during internal and criminal investigation of fellow trooper being prosecuted for allegedly striking his former girlfriend; investigating officer determined that criminal charges against trooper were not justified, but failed to disclose exculpatory evidence or his report. Kemp v. Lynch, 713 N.Y.S.2d 790 (A.D. 2000).
     330:91 $4.5 million settlement reported in lawsuit brought by former member of the Black Panther Party whose conviction for murder was overturned after he spent twenty- seven years in prison; lawsuit claimed that law enforcement officials hid and/or destroyed wiretap evidence that would have supported his alibi of being elsewhere at the time of the murder. Pratt v. City of Los Angeles, U.S. Dist. Ct., S.D.Cal., reported in The New York Times, p. A18 (April 27, 2000).
     331:105 Law enforcement officials had probable cause to pursue prosecution of man for allegedly murdering his wife; despite jury acquittal on criminal charges, he could not recover damages on a malicious prosecution theory. Nugent v. Hayes, 88 F.Supp. 2d 862 (N.D. Ill. 2000).
     334:149 False arrest and malicious prosecution claims against officers were time barred under Illinois law when filed more than a year after the time the criminal case against the plaintiff had been dismissed; dismissal with "leave to reinstate" did not, in any event, constitute a final disposition of the case in favor of the criminal defendant, as required to support a malicious prosecution claim. Woodard v. Eubanks, 94 F.Supp. 2d 940 (N.D. Ill. 2000).
     334:154 Mississippi state gaming commission and two of its investigating agents held liable for $45,000 for malicious prosecution of man placed temporarily in charge of charitable bingo game by his brother-in-law, the authorized person; appeals court finds that agents obtained immediate arrest of plaintiff only after he refused to continue cooperating with their investigation; 15% penalty imposed for unsuccessful appeal of award. Mississippi Gaming Commission v. Baker, No. 97-CA-01507-COA, 755 So. 2d 1129 (Miss. App. 1999).
     [N/R] Dropping of criminal charges against a government employee in exchange for his agreement to retire from his job was not a termination of the prosecution in the employee's favor which would allow him to sue for malicious prosecution under Texas state law. Evans v. Ball, No. 97-41389, 168 F.3d 856 (5th Cir. 1999).
     331:108 Officer's unsigned and unsworn memorandum, prepared for police department's legal section, was inadmissible hearsay which was improperly relied on by trial judge in granting summary judgment in malicious prosecution case brought by a member of a community police monitoring organization who was issued a citation for following a police vehicle in which two members of her group were being transported following their arrest. Sikora v. Gibbs, No. 98AP-655, 726 N.E.2d 540 (Ohio App. 1999).
     333:133 Georgia notice of claims statute only applied to claims that married couple arrested after school board meeting had against the city, not to claims against individual city employees; couple's counter-claim for alleged abusive litigation was improper in officer's lawsuit against them for injuries, since it could only be brought after the termination of the first lawsuit. Jacobs v. Littleton, Nos. A99A2014-A99A2016, 525 S.E.2d 433 (Ga. App. 1999).
     26:27 UPDATE Danish mother who left sleeping infant outside restaurant in carriage was not falsely arrested, New York federal jury finds, but still awards her $66,400 in damages for post-arrest damages, including alleged police department practice of failing to advise foreign arrestee of their right to seek assistance from their country's consulate; $1 each awarded to woman and the father of her baby for strip search. Sorensen v. City of New York, U.S. Dist. Ct., S.D.N.Y., reported in The New York Times, p. A23 (Dec. 15, 1999).
     327:42 Sheriff's action of allegedly issuing criminal summons to woman in retaliation for her political opposition to him did not state a civil rights claim for malicious prosecution when she was not arrested, detained, fingerprinted, or ultimately prosecuted; plaintiff's liberty was not restricted in any way; summons and alleged defamatory remarks to the press also did not constitute a violation of First Amendment rights when no tangible adverse damage resulted from these acts. Matherne v. Larpenter, 54 F.Supp. 2d 684 (E.D. La. 1999).
     329:68 Man arrested for disorderly conduct by New York state park police officer could not sue for false arrest or malicious prosecution when a citation issued to him was "adjourned in contemplation of dismissal," since this was not viewed as a termination in his favor under state law. Bowles v. State of New York, 37 F.Supp. 2d 608 (S.D.N.Y. 1999).
     329:68 Officers and city were not liable for false arrest or malicious prosecution to man arrested pursuant to valid arrest warrants for theft and criminal trespass, despite the fact that he was not actually the person named in the warrants; arrestee had the same first and last name as suspect sought, lived at the address named in the warrant, and generally fit the description of the suspect. Montgomery v. City of Montgomery, No. 2971214, 732 So. 2d 305 (Ala. Civ. App. 1999).
     323:171 City liable for45% ($5.2533 million) of $11.674 million award to man imprisoned for seventeen years based on false accusation by someone involved in robbery/killing of taxi driver that he was the triggerman; Louisiana appeals court finds that officers did not have probable cause for arrest and that prosecutor did not have probable cause for prosecution. Gibson v. State, 731 So. 2d 379 (La. App. 1999).
     323:169 Connecticut Supreme Court upholds $930,000 false arrest/malicious prosecution award against two detectives who procured warrant for his arrest; plaintiff argued that omissions in affidavit for warrant resulted in his arrest and prosecution without probable cause. Ham v. Greene, 729 A.2d 740 (Conn. 1999).
     323:167 Police officer who made arrest of store employee could rely on information supplied to him by store security and did not need to make independent investigation or examine all documents in question before arresting employee for alleged theft; city was not liable for false arrest or malicious prosecution. Melder v. Sears, Roebuck & Co., 731 So. 2d 991 (La. App. 1999).
     322:153 Officers lacked probable cause for arrest of father who submitted four nude photos of his three-year- old daughter to a photo lab for developing; mere nudity did not show "lewdness" and daughter's explanation, during questioning, that her daddy had helped her take off her clothes, put a necklace around her waist, and told her to stand against a wall was consistent with an "innocent act" as well as a criminal act; malicious prosecution claim rejected because of an absence of a showing of malice on officers' part. Galante v. County of Nassau, #QDS:72700764, N.Y. Sup. Ct. (Nassau County), reported in New York Law Journal, (Feb. 16, 1999).
     322:153 Danish couple who left sleeping infant outside restaurant in carriage while going inside for drinks could sue officers who arrested them for endangering child's welfare and who removed child from their custody; malicious prosecution claim dismissed, however, since dismissal of criminal charges against them was not unqualified. Sorensen v. City of New York, 1999 U.S. Dist. Lexis 10927 (S.D.N.Y.).
     317:75 Four men wrongfully convicted of participation in kidnapping, gang-rape and double homicide, two of whom faced death sentences, receive $36 million settlement in lawsuits against county claiming that investigators, including sheriff's deputies, "framed" them by encouraging witness to lie, failing to reveal exculpatory evidence, and failing to pursue leads that would have led to actual killers, three of whom have now been convicted. Williams v. Sheahan, Circuit Court of Cook County, Chicago, Ill., reported in Chicago Tribune, Sec. 1, p. 1 (March 6, 1999).
     315:43 Arrestee whose convictions for armed robbery and murder were overturned on appeal because he was arrested without probable cause could not sue arresting officers for malicious prosecution when he did not claim that officers did anything improper to further his prosecution following his arrest. Sneed v. Rybicki, #97-2256, 146 F.3d 478 (7th Cir. 1998).
     314:23 Federal civil rights claim against police chief for malicious prosecution abated with police chief's death under Oklahoma law; state law governed survival of action under federal civil rights statute. Pietrowski v. Town of Dibble, #97-6012, 134 F.3d 1006 (10th Cir. 1998).
     301:11 Prisoner could not pursue federal civil rights malicious prosecution claim against officers when his conviction for murder had not been overturned; vague allegations that officers arrested him and "orchestrated" his prosecution because of his active participation in the Muslim community were insufficient for an abuse of process claim. Duamutef v. Morris, 956 F.Supp. 1112 (S.D.N.Y. 1997).
     302:22 Police officer could not be liable, under California state law, for damages arising from false arrest which occurred after the time that the arrestee was formally arraigned in court on criminal charges; California statute provides immunity from liability for malicious prosecution; California Supreme Court orders further proceedings in case where jury awarded $1.257 million against officer and city. Asgari v. City of Los Angeles, 63 Cal.Rptr.2d 842, 937 P.2d 273 (Cal. 1997).
     303:35 Port Authority employee arrested by officers for entering restricted area without showing identification or obeying commands to stop awarded $46,000 in damages for excessive force during arrest, despite ruling that officers had probable cause to arrest him, since they reasonably thought that he was a trespasser; intermediate state appeals court rules that damages awarded were inadequate. Freeman v. Port Authority of New York, 659 N.Y.S.2d 13 (A.D. 1997).
     304:57 Dismissal of criminal prosecution for violation of the right to a speedy trial could constitute a "favorable termination" for purposes of a malicious prosecution lawsuit under New York state law if there was evidence that the prosecution was abandoned because the charges lacked merit. Velasquez v. City of New York, 960 F.Supp. 776 (S.D.N.Y. 1997).
     305:74 Arrestee entitled to $50,000 in damages and $89,888.17 in attorneys' fees and costs in malicious prosecution case brought over criminal charges dropped for failure to bring them to speedy trial. Murphy v. Lynn, 118 F.3d 938 (2nd Cir. 1997).
     305:70 Wife's statement to officers that her estranged husband had violated restraining order, together with corroboration of witness and officers' independent knowledge of husband's past conduct, gave officers probable cause to arrest him, barring false arrest, false imprisonment, and malicious prosecution claims. Beaudoin v. Levesque, 697 A.2d 1065 (R.I. 1997).
     305:75 Federal Marshals were not entitled to absolute witness immunity on claim that they fabricated story of what happened in initial Ruby Ridge shootout; court finds that agents acted as "complaining witnesses" and could be liable for malicious prosecution; court also disapproves of "Special Rules of Engagement" under which agents were to shoot to kill any armed male in the vicinity of a farmhouse, without warning or showing of immediate danger. Harris v. Roderick, 126 F.3d 1189 (9th Cir. 1997), cert. denied, Smith v. Harris, 118 S.Ct. 1051 (1998).
     308:120 Two year statute of limitations on malicious prosecution claim began to run when magistrate dismissed case against arrestee, despite the fact that criminal charges against him could have been reinstated during a subsequent four year period; lawsuit brought three years later was time-barred under Georgia law. Waters v. Walton, 483 S.E.2d 133 (Ga. App. 1997).
     {N/R} Governor's pardon did not have effect of freeing individual from adjudication of guilt for purpose of bringing lawsuit for wrongful imprisonment and violation of civil rights. Wilson v. Lawrence County, Missouri, 978 F.Supp. 915 (W.D. Mo. 1997).
     {N/R} Officer liable for $200,000 in compensatory damages in malicious prosecution lawsuit; allegation that officer filed false felony assault charge against plaintiff in retaliation for his objection to illegal seizure of his rifle stated claim for violation of civil rights. Britton v. Maloney, 981 F.Supp. 25 (D. Mass. 1997).
     {N/R} Detective was not entitled to qualified immunity in arrestee's malicious prosecution lawsuit when plaintiff alleged that there was no evidence against him other than the fact that he had a name "similar" to the actual suspect's name. Morales v. Busbee, 972 F.Supp. 254 (D.N.J. 1997).
     290:22 Man serving sentence for second degree burglary after pleading guilty was barred by that plea from pursuing federal civil rights lawsuit for arrest without probable cause; claims for malicious prosecution and officer's alleged false testimony could not be pursued when plaintiff's conviction and sentence had not been overturned Williams v. Schario, 93 F.3d 527 (8th Cir. 1996).
     290:25 Federal civil rights claim for alleged use of tainted evidence in criminal prosecution accrued when plaintiff's conviction for murder was reversed on appeal, and he could file and pursue the suit even though there was a pending second trial on the same charges Davis v. Zain, 79 F.3d 18 (5th Cir. 1996).
     291:40 Trial court erroneously awarded damages to man arrested by New York police based on erroneous information that there was a warrant for his arrest in Maryland; New York state could not be held liable on "negligence" theory in such circumstances when trial court ruled there was probable cause for the arrest, which barred false arrest and malicious prosecution claims Heath v. State of New York, 645 N.Y.S.2d 366 (A.D. 1996).
     296:121 Man charged with sexual assault on mildly retarded girl receives $200,000 settlement after charges are dropped; suit asserted that charges were pursued despite statements of witnesses that plaintiff, although physically present, did not participate in the assault Corcoran v. Essex County, U.S. Dist. Ct., NJ, The New York Times, p. 34, National Edition (April 20, 1997).
     {N/R} Boat owner stated claim for malicious prosecution civil rights violation based on seizure of boat for alleged violation of registration number display requirement and subsequent arrest of boat owner Whiting v. Traylor, 85 F.3d 581 (11th Cir. 1996).
     {N/R} Trial court erred in setting aside jury's verdict for plaintiff on state law malicious prosecution claim on basis that it was "inconsistent" with jury's verdict for officer on federal civil rights claim Mosley v. Wilson, 102 F.3d 85 (3rd Cir. 1996).
     {N/R} Striking of criminal charges with leave to reinstate constituted a favorable termination for the accused when subsequent lapse of time prevented charges from being reinstated, giving rise to possible malicious prosecution claim Jenkins v. Meginnis, 931 F.Supp. 567 (N.D.Ill. 1996).
     283:109 Determination, in criminal proceeding, that police officers' search of arrestee was unlawful did not bar officers or city from contesting that issue in later false arrest/malicious prosecution lawsuit brought by arrestee Taveras v. City of New York, 635 N.Y.S.2d 608 (A.D. 1995).
     284:120 Mere fact that individuals were indicted by grand jury after they had already filed federal civil rights lawsuit against officers who conducted gambling raid on their business premises did not show that prosecution was retaliatory in violation of their First Amendment rights; evidence clearly showed that there was intent to seek indictments prior to filing of civil rights lawsuit Enlow v. Tishomingo County, Mississippi, 45 F.3d 885 (5th Cir. 1995).
     277:7 Eyewitness identification of suspect as the shooter in a murder provided probable cause for arrest and prosecution; officer's alleged subsequent failure to talk with witnesses presented by arrestee's parents did not negate probable cause at time of arrest Dukes v. City of New York, 879 F.Supp. 335 (S.D.N.Y. 1995).
     278:22 Three year statute of limitations began to run on malicious prosecution claim from the time the charges against the plaintiff were finally dismissed, not from the time of the arrest Murphy v. Lynn, 53 F.3d 547 (2nd Cir. 1995).
     277:3 County Sheriff's Department liable for $159 million for raid by 100 deputies on Samoan/American bridal shower at which deputies allegedly falsely arrested 36, used excessive force, and shouted racial epithets Dole v. County of Los Angeles Sheriffs, No C751398, L.A. Superior Ct., Cal., Aug 16, 1995, Vol 108 no 167 LA Daily Journal (Verd. & Stl.), p. 4 [Cross-references: False Arrest/Imprisonment: No Warrant; Governmental Liability: Policy/Custom; Malicious Prosecution]
     281:75 Suspect in murder investigation whose indictment was dismissed after witness recanted his testimony could not sue investigating detective and city for malicious prosecution when dismissal of charges was not necessarily final Russell v. Smith, 68 F.3d 33 (2nd Cir. 1995).
     284:121 Jury awards $201,001 in damages against police officer for malicious prosecution and assault and battery; court finds sufficient evidence to support jury's conclusion that officer maliciously filed false report stating that arrestee attacked him and resisted arrest; assault and battery award, under state law, was not contradictory to jury's finding of no Fourth Amendment unreasonable force violation Lee v. Edwards, 906 F.Supp. 94 (D.Conn 1995). [Cross-reference: Assault and Battery: Physical]
     285:140 Evidence of arrestee's acquittal on criminal charges growing out of altercation with off-duty officer was properly admitted since favorable termination of criminal case was a necessary element of malicious prosecution claim; Rhode Island Supreme Court upholds $20,000 compensatory damages award, but rules that $50,000 punitive damages award against officer was excessive and that $10,000 would be a more appropriate amount of punitive damages Minutelli v. Boranian, 668 A.2d 317 (RI 1995). [Cross-references: Damages: Punitive]
     287:171 Alabama Supreme Court rules that municipality may not be sued, under state law, for malicious prosecution, but rejects argument that municipality was also immune from liability for false arrest/imprisonment or assault and battery allegedly carried out by one of its police officers Franklin v. City of Huntsville, 670 So2d 848 (Ala 1995). [Cross-references: Assault and Battery: Physical; False Arrest/Imprisonment: No Warrant]
     {N/R} Arrestee's civil rights action against federal law enforcement authorities for malicious prosecution/false arrest was barred in absence of proof that his conviction had been overturned Tavarez v. Reno, 54 F.3d 109 (2nd Cir. 1995).
     265:12 Trial judge in malicious prosecution lawsuit erred in failing to instruct jury that it had to find, before awarding damages, that officer had no probable cause for commencing and continuing prosecution for "harassment," the charge in the criminal complaint, rather than instructing that it could award damages if officer had no probable cause for earlier charge of "assault," later dropped Kellermueller v. Port Authority of NY & NJ, 607 N.Y.S.2d 942 (A.D. 1994).
     271:105 Convicted robber could not sue under federal civil rights statute on his allegation that police officers committed perjury against him and coerced witnesses to wrongfully identify him when his conviction had not been overturned on appeal or otherwise invalidated Channer v. Mitchell, 43 F.3d 786 (2nd Cir. 1994).
     274:154 Arrestees' agreement to enter into federal pre-trial diversion program, which resulted in them not being prosecuted, did not constitute "favorable" termination of criminal proceeding for purposes of bringing a malicious prosecution lawsuit Taylor v. Gregg, 36 F.3d 453 (5th Cir. 1994).
     Arrestee did not establish a federal civil rights claim for malicious prosecution when state law malicious prosecution remedy was not inadequate, and there was no allegation that prosecution was based on racial or political grounds or to otherwise deprive him of equal protection of law; no liability under state law for malicious prosecution in this case when arresting officers did not initiate or participate actively in bringing of criminal charges by Attorney General's office Senra v. Cunningham, 9 F.3d 168 (1st Cir. 1993).
     U.S. Supreme Court holds that courts should dismiss federal civil rights suits seeking damages when a judgment in favor of the plaintiff necessarily implies that invalidity of the plaintiff's criminal sentence, but that sentence has not already been overturned Heck v. Humphrey, 114 S.Ct. 2364 (1994).
     Motorist issued a more serious speeding citation after she contested a less serious one was entitled to an injunction against prosecution on the new citation and an award of $20,000 and attorneys' fees against issuing officer when he allegedly issued more serious charges in retaliation for her pleading not guilty and requesting a hearing Ruscavage v. Zuratt, 821 F.Supp. 1078 (E.D. Pa 1993).
     Man arrested in courtroom corridor by court security officers, and not convicted of any charges, awarded $75,000 in compensatory damages in malicious prosecution claim, and a total of $150,000 in punitive damages on malicious prosecution, excessive force, and false arrest claims King v. Macri, 993 F.2d 294 (2nd Cir. 1993).
     Pennsylvania Supreme Court holds that quashing of an indictment on the basis of double jeopardy and prosecutorial abandonment of charges in a second case both constituted "favorable termination" of criminal cases for purposes of an arrestee bringing a malicious prosecution lawsuit against law enforcement officials Haefner v. Burkey, 626 A.2d 519 (Pa 1993).
     Federal constitutional claims based on malicious prosecution must be brought under the Fourth Amendment rather than the Fourteenth Amendment's due process clause, a plurality of the U.S. Supreme Court holds Albright v. Oliver, 114 S.Ct. 806 (1994).
     Jury which awarded a total of $770,000 in compensatory damages for malicious prosecution against city and four officers was improperly instructed; all defendants should have been found jointly and severally liable for a total amount of damages for this "single injury" rather than being assessed different individual amounts; $440,000 in damages against five officers awarded on other civil rights claims Rodick v. City of Schnectady, 1 F.3d 1341 (2nd Cir. 1993).
     Oklahoma Supreme Court finds that state statute immunizes municipality from liability for malicious prosecution Parker v. City of Midwest City, 850 P.2d 1065 (Okl 1993).
     Federal appeals court holds that alleged malicious prosecution of arrestee was insufficient to support federal civil rights lawsuit, absent violation of another right or deprivation of liberty or property Ayala-Martinez v. Anglero, 982 F.2d 26 (1st Cir. 1992).
     Termination of criminal case under Connecticut's "accelerated pretrial rehabilitation program" was not a termination favorable to the arrestee for purposes of bringing a federal civil rights claim based on malicious prosecution or false imprisonment Roesch v. Otarola, 980 F.2d 850 (2nd Cir. 1992).
     Officers not liable for malicious prosecution of man arrested for alleged drug sale; officers did not furnish any false evidence to prosecutor or grand jury, and in fact, their truthful information regarding their uncertainty of identification of arrestee was part of the grounds for dismissal of the prosecution Patterson v. JM Armatys, 808 F.Supp. 550 (E.D. Tex. 1992).
     Neither officers or municipality could be held liable for malicious prosecution of woman indicted for aiding and abetting her son in selling marijuana; while prosecutors later dropped the charges, there was no evidence supporting malice in initially bringing the charges, and there was probable cause for the arrest and indictment of the plaintiff Carver v. Hartville Police Dept, 594 N.E.2d 92 (Ohio App. 1992).
     Deputy was not entitled to absolute immunity for his allegedly false testimony before grand jury or at preliminary hearing if he was a "complaining" witness who instigated the prosecution Anthony v. Baker, 955 F.2d 1395 (10th Cir. 1992).
     Dismissal of criminal charges "in the interest of justice" was not a favorable proceeding of the criminal proceeding allowing the arrestees to bring a malicious prosecution action Delaney v. Gerdon, 785 F.Supp. 1128 (E.D.N.Y. 1992).
     Jury verdict for officer on malicious prosecution claim overturned because argument to the jury improperly suggested videotaped deposition of witness was to be given less credence than live testimony; appeals court rejects argument plaintiff failed to prove officer instigated the prosecution Langdon v. Wight, 821 S.W.2d 508 (Mo App. 1991).
     Finding of probable cause in preliminary hearing of murder case did not, under Connecticut law, bar relitigation of issue of probable cause in subsequent civil rights lawsuit for malicious prosecution Golino v. City of New Haven, 950 F.2d 864 (2nd Cir. 1991).
     Judgment against city for $950,000 for false arrest and malicious prosecution reduced on appeal to $475,000; charges dropped before arraignment or indictment cannot serve as the basis for a malicious prosecution claim Stile v. City of New York, 569 N.Y.S.2d 129 (A.D. 1991).
     Use of other person's name to identify suspect in criminal records after suspect had been placed in custody and fingerprinted stated claim for malicious prosecution and intentional infliction of emotional distress Sergio v. Doe, 769 F.Supp. 164 (E.D. Pa 1991).
     New York court overturns $150,000 malicious prosecution award against city; grand jury indictment of plaintiff created a presumption that probable cause for the prosecution existed, which was not overcome Carthens v. City of New York, 562 N.Y.S.2d 534 (A.D. 1990).
     Officer could not be held liable for malicious prosecution when his arrest of the plaintiff was "sensible" and there was no evidence of retaliatory motive Bennett v. Village of Oak Park, 748 F.Supp. 1329 (N.D.Ill. 1990).
     Officer liable to store owner for $50,000 for malicious prosecution and false arrest for falsely charging him with possession of stolen property, but $25,000 jury award for abuse of process is reversed Duboue v. City of New Orleans, 909 F.2d 129 (5th Cir. 1990).
     Police detective liable for $150,000 in compensatory and $75,000 in punitive damages to suspect babysitter she allegedly had charged with murder in retaliation for suspect's hiring of an attorney during investigation; court holds that such action violated First Amendment rights of association and speech DeLoach v. Bevers, 922 F.2d 618 (10th Cir. 1990).
     Officers liable for $75,000 for malicious prosecution of man for murder of police officer; suit alleged that they manufactured perjured testimony for witnesses to give at trial Robinson v. Maruffi, 895 F.2d 649 (10th Cir. 1990).
     Dismissal of criminal charges "in the interest of justice" was not a resolution favorable to the defendant; dying patient's son arrested while trying to enter hospital to pray at his mother's bedside could not sue for malicious prosecution Macleay v. Arden Hill Hospital, 563 N.Y.S.2d 333 (A.D. 1990).
     Police chief was not liable for malicious prosecution when facts demonstrated that he had probable cause to seek arrest warrant for encouraging a minor to become delinquent Skinner v. Etheridge, 564 So.2d 902 (Ala 1990).
     Arrestee acquitted on charges of criminal possession of weapon and menacing could not sue for malicious prosecution when he was convicted of other charges arising out of the same incident Goree v. Gunning, 738 F.Supp. 79 (E.D.N.Y. 1990).
     Even if arrest of man for fish and game ordinance violations were carried out as part of personal vendetta, no constitutional rights were violated Gunderson v. Schlueter, 904 F.2d 407 (8th Cir. 1990).
     Married couple prosecuted under ordinance (later held unconstitutional). prohibiting running a brothel or enticing others into acts of lewdness had no civil rights claim Richardson v. City of South Euclid, 904 F.2d 1050 (6th Cir. 1990).
     Malicious prosecution award of $150,000 against city upheld despite existence of probable cause to arrest Maxwell v. City of New York, 554 N.Y.S.2d 502 (A.D. 1990).
     County liable for $300,000 for malicious prosecution of diner patrons involved in fight with off-duty officers; government report was evidence of policy/custom of lax supervision Gentile v. County of Suffolk, 129 F.R.D. 435 (E.D.N.Y. 1990).
     Malicious prosecution, standing alone, is insufficient to show civil rights claim, absent deprivation of constitutional right Yaworski v. Pae, 717 F.Supp. 624 (N.D.Ill. 1989).
     Plaintiff could sue for malicious prosecution based on acquittal of resisting arrest, despite conviction of lesser, related charge Janetka v. Dabe, 892 F.2d 187 (2d Cir. 1989).
     Convicted murderer could not bring civil rights, conspiracy or malicious prosecution lawsuit despite claim of falsified evidence against him Green v. City of NY Medical Examiner's Office, 723 F.Supp. 973 (S.D.N.Y. 1989).
     Malice needed for malicious prosecution action could be inferred from lack of probable cause for arrest Frye v. O'Neill, 520 N.E.2d 1233 (Ill App. 1988).
     Louisiana Supreme Court reinstates finding of malicious prosecution in case in which detective failed to verify information provided by career criminal Miller v. East Baton Rouge Parish Sher Dept, 511 So.2d 446 (La 1987).
     Department of public safety employee who conducted narcotics investigation of fellow employee after request from district attorney not liable for unlawful prosecution Bogle v. Scheer, 512 So.2d 1336 (Ala 1987).
     Police investigator who actively continued prosecution of narcotics defendants without evidence that bag seized contained drugs liable for malicious prosecution despite probable cause for arrest Callan v. State, 521 N.Y.S.2d 923 (A.D. 1987).
     Lawsuit for malicious prosecution dismissed; judge's mere use of words "not guilty" in order dismissing prosecution was not resolution of charges on merits Carlsen v. Village of Oakwood Hills, 517 N.E.2d 1107 (Ill App. 1987).
     Treble damages not applicable to municipalities; admission of polygraph test in malicious prosecution action grounds for reversal Bernier v. Szentmiklosi, 810 F.2d 594 (6th Cir. 1987).
     Officer's failure to include exculpatory information in incident report given to prosecutor did not show bad faith; no liability for malicious prosecution King v. Arbic, 406 N.W.2d 852 (Mich App. 1987).
     TV show "Crime Stoppers" aided in providing probable cause to prosecute; failure to check alibi not grounds for liability Miller v. East Baton Rouge Parish Sher Dept, 492 So.2d 23 (La App. 1986).
     City can criminally prosecute individuals for filing knowingly false complaints against police Gates v. City of Dallas, 729 F.2d 343 (5th Cir. 1984).
     Malicious prosecution suits cannot stem from proceedings in small claims court Black v. Hepner, 202 Cal.Rptr. 799 (App. 1984).
     Willful conspiracy could result in liability to various city officials Overstreet v. Borough of Yeadon, 475 A.2d 803 (Pa Super 1984). County investigator immune in malicious prosecution suit Barry v. Johnson, 350 N.W.2d 498 (Minn. App. 1984).
     Plaintiff's oppressive litigation techniques makes him liable for costs; judicial, prosecutorial and witness immunity doctrines discussed Wickstrom v. Ebert, 585 F.Supp. 924 (E.D. Wis 1984).
     Bringing charges against plaintiff for leaving notice on police station door may result in individual liability to police officer Losch v. Borough of Parkesburg, Pa, 736 F.2d 903 (3rd Cir. 1984).
     Absolute immunity for prosecuting plaintiff until real perpetrator came forward Johnson v. Town of Colonie, 477 N.Y.S.2d 513 (Albany County 1984).
     "Disposition in lieu of trial" program does not provide a basis for subsequent malicious prosecution claim Junod v. Bader, 458 A.2d 251 (Pa App. 1983). and Nappi v. Kappeler, 461 N.Y.S.2d 193 (App. 1983).
     No liability for false arrest or malicious prosecution Brown v. City of NY, 459 N.Y.S.2d 589 (App. 1983).
     Plaintiff cited for bad driving after colliding with police officer has no conspiracy or malicious prosecution claim Bell v. Brennan, 570 F.Supp. 1116, (E.D. Pa 1983).
     Probable cause existed to charge parents with endangering infant's welfare causing him to die Angel v. Kasson, 581 F.Supp. 170 (N.D.NY 1983).