Malicious prosecution

Malicious Prosecution is a legal term referring to a civil lawsuit or criminal proceeding initiated against someone without probable cause and for reasons other than bringing the person to justice. This action is taken with malice, meaning the person or entity initiating the lawsuit or proceeding does so with an intent to harm or harass the defendant, rather than to seek a legitimate legal remedy. Malicious prosecution is considered a violation of the defendant's civil rights, specifically the right to seek justice and the right to be free from abuse of the legal process.

Elements

To establish a claim for malicious prosecution, a plaintiff must prove several elements:

1. The defendant initiated or continued a legal proceeding against the plaintiff.
2. The proceeding ended in the plaintiff's favor (if it has concluded).
3. There was no probable cause for the proceeding.
4. The defendant acted with malice, or with a purpose other than bringing the plaintiff to justice.
5. The plaintiff suffered damages as a result of the proceeding.

Legal Proceedings

Malicious prosecution can occur in both criminal law and civil law contexts. In criminal law, it involves the wrongful initiation of criminal charges, while in civil law, it pertains to the wrongful initiation of civil lawsuits. Both types of malicious prosecution can lead to significant emotional and financial damage to the victim.

Damages

Victims of malicious prosecution may seek various forms of damages, including:

• Compensatory damages for financial losses, emotional distress, and damage to reputation.
• Punitive damages, intended to punish the wrongdoer and deter similar conduct in the future.

Defenses

Defendants in a malicious prosecution case may present several defenses, including:

• Probable cause to initiate the proceeding.
• The absence of malice.
• The proceeding was initiated with the advice of counsel.

Related Concepts

Malicious prosecution is closely related to abuse of process, another civil claim. While malicious prosecution focuses on the wrongful initiation of legal proceedings, abuse of process targets the misuse of legal procedures for purposes other than those intended by the law, regardless of the lawsuit's legitimacy.

See Also

• False arrest
• False imprisonment
• Defamation
• Civil rights