Neuowich v. Cohn — 172 A.D. 411

Majority

p. 411

Alexander H. Neuowich, Appellant, v. Leopold Cohn, Respondent.

First Department,

April 14, 1916.

Headnote

False imprisonment — probable cause — plaintiff held for trial on criminal charge —when error to direct judgment dismissing complaint. ■

The fact that one arrested on a criminal charge was after an examination held for trial, is prima facie evidence of probable cause for the prosecution, and in an action brought by him for false imprisonment and malicious prosecution, the burden of proof rests upon him to show want of probable cause and malice.

Where the record on appeal from the judgment entered upon the dismissal of the complaint by direction of the court at the close of plaintiff’s ease shows that there was a clear issue on the question of want of probable cause and malice, which should have been submitted to the jury on the count for malicious prosecution, the judgment will be reversed and a new trial granted.

Appeal by' the plaintiff, Alexander H. Neuowich, from a judgment of the Supreme Court in favor of the defendant, entered in the office of the clerk of the county of New York on the 30th day of April, 1915, upon a dismissal of the complaint by direction of the court at the close of plaintiff’s case.

Alexander 8. Bacon, for the appellant.

Thomas P. de Graffenried, for the respondent.

This action was brought on a complaint alleging false imprisonment and malicious prosecution. At the close of plaintiff’s testimony the complaint was dismissed. Plaintiff claims that this was error: (1) Because the warrant upon

which he was arrested was illegally issued, the information upon which the magistrate acted failing to charge a crime of conspiracy for which the plaintiff was arrested; and (2) because the evidence introduced by the plaintiff raised an issue of fact for the jury to determine, whether or not the defendant acted with malice and want of probable cause.

The proceeding out of which the present action arose originated in the City Magistrate’s Court. The defendant here

p. 412

caused a warrant to be issued for the arrest of plaintiff upon an information supposed to charge the crime of conspiracy against the defendant and others. After the arrest of the plaintiff upon the warrant it seems that there was an examination of the charge, as the result of which this plaintiff was held to answer at the Court of Special Sessions. After several days’ imprisonment he was released on bail. In the Court of Special Sessions the charge against the plaintiff was dismissed, and the proceedings were thus terminated in favor of plaintiff. On the trial of this present action the information which was laid before the magistrate and the warrant of arrest were put in evidence, as was also the fact that the accused after the examination of the evidence was held for trial at the Special Sessions.

Down to this point, therefore, there was prima facie evidence of probable cause for the prosecution. (See Schultz v. Greenwood Cemetery, 190 N. Y. 276 .) Therefore, it was incumbent on the plaintiff to meet this prima facie case by proof of want of probable cause for the prosecution, and that it was inspired by malice. (Schultz v. Greenwood Cemetery, supra.)

For this purpose several witnesses were examined on behalf of the plaintiff, whose testimony, if .believed by the jury, proved conclusively that the defendant here willfully testified falsely as to material matters in his information laid before the magistrate, particularly when he swore that plaintiff asked defendant for $200 in order “ to stifle ” certain contemplated attacks upon defendant, and that plaintiff said that he had better pay before it was too late. The record shows that there was a clear issue of fact on the question of want of probable cause and malice, which ought to have been submitted to the jury on the count for malicious prosecution. For this reason we think the judgment should be reversed and a new trial granted, with costs to appellant to abide event.

Clarke, P. J., Lattghlik and Scott, JJ., concurred.

Judgment reversed, new trial ordered, costs to appellant to abide event,

Cases cited

Schultz v. Greenwood Cemetery 190 N. Y. 276 N.Y. 1907-12-20 p. 412