Waas v. Stephens — 24 N.Y. St. Rep. 695

Majority

p. 695

Jerome B. Waas, Resp’t, v. Benjamin F. Stephens, App’lt.

(Supreme Court, General Term, Second Department,

Filed June 28, 1889.)

Headnote

Malicious prosecution—What acts will not authorize an arrest.

The defendant had permission at the will of the Brooklyn Park Commissioners to connect a system of water pipes with their main. They withdrew the permission, and directed plaintiff one of their officers, to disconnect the system. For this he was criminally arrested by defendant. Held, that if plaintiff did the work in a proper manner, and so as not to cause needless injury to defendant, there was no probable cause for the arrest.

Appeal from a judgment recovered in an action for malicious prosecution. It was tried in the Kings circuit before Justice Bartlett and a jury in January last, and resulted in a verdict in favor of the plaintiff for $700. This appeal is brought to review the judgment perfected on that verdict.

E. H. Kissam, for resp’t; Orlando L. Stewart, for app’lt.

The defendant had an arrangement by which he was permitted to connect a system of water pipes with the main under the contract of the Brooklyn Park Commissioners. The permission was at the will of the park commissioners. They withdrew the permission and gave notice thereof to the defendant. The Board of Brooklyn Park Commissioners therefore gave notice to its officer, the plaintiff to disconnect the systems. He did so, and for this was criminally arrested by direction of the defendant.

After a hearing he was discharged. There was no cause for the arrest and none is pretended, except that the cut of the Stephens pipes from the park pipes could have been made in a different manner. This, if true,- would show a mere error in judgment and would not justify a criminal arrest.

The defendant had the benefit of the evidence. The jury were told that they could find probable cause for the complaint if the plaintiff was doing his work so as to cause needless injury to the defendant’s company. If the work was being done in a proper manner there was no probable cause for the arrest. The jury have found the cut properly made, and under such a finding no ordinarily prudent man could have supposed there was a criminal offense committed by plaintiff. He was doing a duty under the order of his superiors. They had the right and the power to make the order, and the plaintiff did the work without needless injury to the defendant. The case shows no error, and the judgment should therefore be affirmed, with costs.

All concur.