Section 35 Without Probable Cause

• Library: Prof Liability 2005

The plaintiff in a malicious prosecution action must prove that the defendant instigated the underlying lawsuit without probable cause. Haswell v. Liberty Mut. Ins. Co., 557 S.W.2d 628, 633 (Mo. banc 1977); Henderson v. Cape Trading Co., 289 S.W. 332, 334 (Mo. 1926). The Supreme Court of Missouri has defined probable cause as: “a belief in the facts alleged, based on sufficient circumstances to reasonably induce such belief by a person of ordinary prudence in the same situation, plus a reasonable belief by such person that under such facts the claim may be valid under the applicable law.” Haswell, 557 S.W.2d at 633; see also:

• State ex rel. Police Ret. Sys. of St. Louis v. Mummert, 875 S.W.2d 553, 555 (Mo. banc 1994)
• Linn v. Moffitt, 73 S.W.3d 629, 634 (Mo. App. E.D. 2002)
• Jim Toyne, Inc. v. Adams, 916 S.W.2d 381, 382 (Mo. App. W.D. 1996)
• J. E. Dunn Jr. & Assocs., Inc. v. Total Frame Contr., Inc., 787 S.W.2d 892, 895 (Mo. App. W.D. 1990)
• Zahorsky v. Griffin, Dysart,...