{ "id": 1418543, "name": "Gazzola v. New", "name_abbreviation": "Gazzola v. New", "decision_date": "1935-10-07", "docket_number": "4-3965", "first_page": "724", "last_page": "733", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "191 Ark. 724" } ], "court": { "name_abbreviation": "Ark.", "id": 8808, "name": "Arkansas Supreme Court" }, "jurisdiction": { "id": 34, "name_long": "Arkansas", "name": "Ark." }, "cites_to": [ { "cite": "224 S. W. 396", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.W.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "145 Ark. 8", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 1586188 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark/145/0008-01" ] }, { "cite": "101 S. W. 735", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.W.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "82 Ark. 252", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 1529019 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark/82/0252-01" ] }, { "cite": "131 S. W. 682", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.W.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "96 Ark. 325", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 1542016 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark/96/0325-01" ] }, { "cite": "74 S. W. 521", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.W.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "71 Ark. 351", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 1507899 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark/71/0351-01" ] }, { "cite": "129 S. W. 85", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.W.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "95 Ark. 227", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 1543584 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark/95/0227-01" ] }, { "cite": "38 S. W. 1114", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.W.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "63 Ark. 387", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 8723311 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark/63/0387-01" ] }, { "cite": "183 S. W. 180", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.W.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "122 Ark. 382", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 1558176 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark/122/0382-01" ] }, { "cite": "127 S. W. 708", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.W.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "94 Ark. 433", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 1545352 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark/94/0433-01" ] }, { "cite": "88 S. W. 602", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.W.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "76 Ark. 41", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 1500985 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark/76/0041-01" ] }, { "cite": "231 S. W. 559", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.W.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "149 Ark. 102", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 8717991 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark/149/0102-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 776, "char_count": 17987, "ocr_confidence": 0.491, "pagerank": { "raw": 2.2588710182957468e-07, "percentile": 0.7824050745815683 }, "sha256": "1fdbcbbb4e7fdc9a64378dd8f836fa276954aa0959f368d6e83d52ce05fcb898", "simhash": "1:8e16bdac0ac1e650", "word_count": 3268 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T14:58:19.493067+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [], "parties": [ "Gazzola v. New." ], "opinions": [ { "text": "Butler, J.\nJ. J. New brought suit for malicious prosecution against John Gazzola, the appellant, and J. L. Woodfin. At the conclusion of the testimony the trial court directed a verdict in favor of defendant Wood-fin and submitted the case to the jury against Gazzola. The jury found in favor of the plaintiff in the sum of $200, actual damages, and $1,800, punitive damages, upon which a judgment was entered. To reverse that judgment, this appeal is prosecuted.\nAppellee has moved to dismiss the appeal on the ground that appellant has failed to comply with the provisions of \u00a7 1314, Crawford & Moses\u2019 Digest. The applicable part of the section provides that \u201cwhere the verdict or decision is rendered within three days of the expiration or adjournment of the term a motion for a new trial with alternative prayer for appeal in case said motion be overruled may be presented upon reasonable notice to the opposing party or his attorney of record to the judge or chancellor or his successor of the district in which said verdict or decision was rendered at any time within 30 days from the date of the verdict or decision, and such judge or chancellor, shall pass upon said motion and indorse his ruling thereon upon the back of the motion either granting the motion or overruling the same; and if said motion be overruled he shall also indorse upon said motion his order granting appeal to the Supreme Court and his further order specifying a reasonable time allowed in said cause for filing a bill of exceptions,\u201d etc.\nThe verdict was rendered on March 19, 1934, the last day of the term. Motion for a new trial was filed in the office of the clerk of the court on April 16, 1935, without any indorsement of the judge relating to its presentation or his action thereon. On the 29th day of April, appellant\u2019s attorney withdrew with the permission of the clerk the motion and returned it to the clerk for filing on that day. When returned it bore this indorsement :\n\u201cLonoke, Arkansas, 4/29/35.\n\u201cThis motion for a new trial in the case of New v. Gazzola was presented to the court at Clarendon, Arkansas, April 15, 1935, and taken under advisement. On this day, said motion .is overruled. The defendant excepts to the ruling- of the court. Defendant prays an appeal to the Supreme Court, which is granted and 60 days given to file bill of exceptions.\n\u201cW. J. Waggoner, Circuit Judge.\u201d\n\u201cUpon return of the motion, the clerk indorsed the following filing:\n\u201cThe above order of the circuit judge was filed on the 30th day of April, 1935.\n\u201cLeo H. Rogers, Clerk.\u201d\nFrom this indorsement it appears that the motion was presented to the judge within the 30-day period provided by .statute, and we must presume that for.a sufficient reason it was taken under advisement until the 29th day of April, when the motion was overruled and the proper indorsements of the judge\u2019s action with.the required orders indorsed thereon. The action of the court thus appears to have been beyond the 30-day period.\nThe specific contentions made for dismissal of the appeal are that no notice was given to the opposite party or his attorney. The provision for notice should not be disregarded, for in some cases it might be a fatal omission; the reason for the notice is, that the opposing party may have an opportunity to hear and resist the allowance thereon. Where, as in this case, the court ruled in favor of the opposing party, by denying the motion, he is not prejudiced by the failure of appellant to give the notice.\nIt is next contended that the notice was not in proper form when it was filed on April 16, in that it did not have the rulings of the judge indorsed thereon. Under the rule of practice laid down by the statute, the motion must first be presented to the judge and after the latter has indorsed his action with respect to granting or overruling the same, his grant of appeal and extension of time for filing bill of exceptions, the motion is then to be filed with the clerk. Therefore the filing on April 16, without the judge\u2019s indorsement was premature.\nThe further contention is made that the court could not extend the time for filing the motion by taking the same under advisement, and that, after the expiration of the 30 days, the judge had ho authority to rule upon the motion, grant the appeal or fix the time for filing-the bill of exceptions. In support of this, contention we are cited the case Spivey v. Spivey, 149 Ark. 102, 231 S. W. 559. There is an expression in that opinion which, seems to sustain the position taken by appellant, which is as follows:\n\u201cThe statute requires the motion for a new trial to be presented to the court for its action and be acted upon by the court within 30 days from the date of the verdict or decision.\u201d An examination of. that case discloses, however, that the time in which \u201cthe court acted\u201d was not an issue in the case, and that the words \u201cbe acted upon by the court\u201d was not necessary for the decision of the question presented. The judgment under consideration was rendered on August 25, and within three days before the adjournment of court. On the date on which the court adjourned which was the 26th day of August, a motion for a new trial was filed in the office of the clerk of the court, but was not presented to the judge until after the expiration, of the 30-day period provided. The judge overruled the motion, but did not indorse on it an order granting an appeal and naming the time in which bill of exceptions might be filed. Therefore two express requirements of the statute were not obeyed, and the motion was not sufficient to bring the bill of exceptions into the record for review. It therefore appears that the expression \u201cand be acted on by the court\u201d was dictum and must be regarded as \u201ca slip of the pen,\u201d'for the statute does not provide for any certain time in which the motion shall be filed in the office of the clerk, or when it shall be acted upon by the judge. Therefore the language of the court last above quoted is not justified by any provision of the statute. Cases may well be supposed Avhere it would not be practicable for the judge to pass' upon the motion Avithin 30 days, and as noted the statute does not so provide. Under circumstances Avhich might justify it, the motion, might be presented on the last day allowed, and the errors assigned might be such as would require the taking of testimony in order that the judge be properly advised before filing thereon. This appears a sufficient reason for the silence of the statute as to when the motion must be acted upon by the court.\nThe premature filing of the motion, while erroneous, was not fatal to the appeal for the reason that all that is required is that it be filed when the judge has indorsed his action thereon.\nWe conclude therefore that the proceedings on the motion were in substantial compliance with the statute, and the motion to dismiss is denied.\nAppellant contends that the complaint shows on its face the-cause of action barred by the statute of limitations, and that its defense of set-off was exclusively cognizable in a court of equity, and the trial court erred in its refusal to transfer the cause and proceedings to trial of the issues over his objection. We think these contentions are without merit, but find it unnecessary to discuss same for reasons which hereinafter appear.\nThe serious contention presented is that the appellee in the court below failed to establish the fact that the prosecution was malicious and without probable cause. In an action for malicious prosecution the finding of an indictment by the grand jury is prima facie evidence of probable cause, and, while not conclusive of that fact, the burden is upon the plaintiff to prove both want of probable cause and malice. Wells v. Parker, 76 Ark. 41, 88 S. W. 602; Casey v. Dorr, 94 Ark. 433, 127 S. W. 708.\nIt is essential in an action for malicious prosecution that the plaintiff show not only want of probable cause but also malice on the part of the defendant. These two elements must concur in order to constitute malicious prosecution. Price v. Morris, 122 Ark. 382, 183 S. W. 180; Foster v. Pitts, 63 Ark. 387, 38 S. W. 1114; McIntosh v. Bullard, 95 Ark. 227, 129 S. W. 85.\nThe testimony relied on to establish these essential elements is that of J. J. New and his brother, Walter New, and Clyde Erby. The evidence given before the grand jury resulting in the procurement of the indictment was that of Mr. Woodfin who stated:\n\u201cJ. J. New lived on Mr. Gazzola\u2019s place and gave him a mortgage on a number of mules, and it turned out in tlie fall, when he -went to close out the mortgage, a brother of J. J. New claimed that two of the mules didn\u2019t belong to him, and that they were his, and he wouldn\u2019t give the mules up, and Mr. Gazzola wants to indict him for giving a mortgage on mules that didn\u2019t belong to him. He did not send the sheriff to take possession of the mules, but he claimed the mules belonged to J. J. New. J. J. New\u2019s brother\u2019s name is Walter New, and in the fall of the year Walter claimed that he never knew his brother had given a mortgage on the mules. J. J. New had given the old man four mules and then Walter claimed these other two. J. J. New claimed they were his brother\u2019s mules, and he didn\u2019t tell his brother about it until that fall. The debt between them has 'been settled except these mules. \u201d\nThis was all the testimony considered by the jury. Mr. Gazzola had appeared in the jury room, but he spoke such broken English that he could not make himself understood.\nSubsequent to the return of the indictment, New was tried and acquitted and afterward brought this action. At the trial he testified regarding a settlement he had had with Mr. Gazzola by which he was to move from Gazzola\u2019s farm and be given four mules and turn over to Gazzola all of the property mentioned in two chattel mortgages, which he had given him during the year 1929. The first of these mortgages was executed on the 21st. day of March, 1929, and another on June 26, following. Witness testified that at the time this agreement was made Mr. Woodfin listed the chattels described in the two mortgages; (the two mules in controversy were two of those named in the mortgage of June 26, 1929); that he never made any such statement as that attributed to him by Woodfin in his testimony before the grand jury; that he had never told Mr. Gazzola or Woodfin that he had sold the two mules to his brother, and had never spoken to Mr. Gazzola since the day of the settlement. Witness stated that in May, 1.930, he had a conversation with Mr. Woodfin, but did not tell him that he had sold the mules to his brother. As to moving off Gazzola\u2019s farm, witness was asked: \u201cWhat did you do with the balance of the stuff \u2014 you left it on the place?\u201d and he answered: \u201cYes, sir.\u201d\nWalter New testified that he was present when Gazzola and his brother, J. J. New, had their settlement, and that he heard the terms, that he had had the two mules in controversy in his possession since the spring of 1929 when he had come to Gazzola\u2019s farm to make a crop with his brother; that during the latter part of May or the first of June of 1930 Gazzola and Mr. Woodfin made a demand upon him for the mules in his possession, including the two mules in controversy, and that he refused to give up these two mules. In explaining this he said: \u201cI reasoned with them and felt like I was entitled to some consideration. I told them there was a consideration and a considerable amount that should come to me out of that crop. I thought that I was due some consideration before I turned the mules over to them.\u201d Previous to this, in answer to the question, \u201cDo you know anything about the two mules that are involved in this matter between Mr. New and Mr. Gazzola and Mr. Wood-fin?\u201d Witness had stated: \u201cWe were farming and my brother turned two mules over to me to farm with. We made a verbal trade that in the event I paid for the mules that fall I could keep them. I had them in my possession * * * and kept them * * * until they came up there after them and I refused to release them. \u201d Witness stated that at the time J. J. New made the verbal trade with him that J. J. New informed him that the mules were mortgaged to Gazzola, and, in answer to the question, \u201cYou wouldn\u2019t turn those mules over to anyone until you had a settlement with your brother?\u201d he answered, \u201cNo \u2014 not until I got a settlement.\u201d Witness was asked, \u201cYou explained to them that you had bought the mules from your brother and that\u2019s why you were trying to hold them?\u201d He answered, \u201cIt was understood that we had a conditional trade.\u201d At no place in his testimony, however, does it appear that he frankly disclosed to Gazzola that J. J. New had told him when they had the verbal trade that the mules were under mortgage to Gazzola.\nJ. J. New testified that tlie two mules in controversy, at- the time of the settlement with Mr. Gazzola belonged to witness subject to Gazzola\u2019s mortgage. Later on he said: \u201cI Avas going to sell them provided that he (Walter) paid out subject to the mortgage Mr. Gazzola held.\u201d Witness was present when Walter was testifying and admitted that his testimony Avas truthful as to the sale of the two mules. It does not appear from the evidence given by J. J. New that he disclosed to Gazzola or Wood-fin the trade betAveen himself and Walter NeAV and explained to them that transaction.\nThe Avitness, Clyde Erby, stated in effect that some time in 1928 or 1929 he went to Mr. Gazzola and told him that he Avould like to handle his (Gazzola\u2019s) place for him, and \u201che kind\u2019o bleAv off and said that he didn\u2019t know AAdiether he wanted to let it go or not; that Jim (J. J. New) had stolen everything he had over there and I turned around and walked out.\u201d\nThe following facts are undisputed: In 1926 J. J. New rented Gazzola\u2019s farm and moved upon it. The result of his operations on the farm was that in July, 1928, he Avas indebted to Gazzola in the sum of $6,955.44 and during the year 1929 Gazzola furnished him $9,622.87 in addition. During that year NeAV was farming some land belonging to a Mr. ErAvin, and, upon certain representations made by NeAV, Gazzola advanced a considerable sum for the operation of that farm. Later he discovered that these representations were false, and, as he Avas already dissatisfied Avith NeAV as a tenant, he decided that that year Avould terminate their relation as landlord and tenant. At the close of that season\u2019s business the account of New with Gazzola, after giving him all credit, left a balance due Gazzola of $8,588.88, exclusiA^e of interest and also of a $2,000 item NeAV OAved Gazzola for rent, making an aggregate of more than $10,000 due Gazzola by New. Gazzola inquired of New in the latter part of 1929 if he had found a place to move, and New claimed that under his contract he Avas entitled to remain on the farm through the year 1930 and indicated that he. was going to stay on. He finally made the proposition to Gazzola that if the latter Avould discharge him of indebtedness and give him four mules he would move off the place and surrender to Gazzola all the chattels included in the two mortgages made in the year 1929. After consulting his friends, Gazzola finally agreed to New\u2019s demands and settled on New\u2019s terms giving him the four mules, and at that time a Mr. Woodfin, who was Gazzola\u2019s agent, made a list of the properties, and later on in endeavoring to gain possession of them, Gazzola found that Walter New had possession of two of the mules which were included in the mortgage of June 26, 1929. Gazzola demanded these mules of Walter New who refused to surrender them, claiming that he was entitled to retain them under some kind of a trade made with his brother, J. J. New, and Gazzola never did get these two mules.\nBoth J. J. New and Walter New claimed that Walter got possession of these mules in the spring of 1929 under the verbal agreement as testified to by Walter New. If this is true, J. J. New was not the owner of the mules at the time he mortgaged them to Gazzola on June 26, following.\nA probable cause is that state of case where, after ordinary care in ascertaining the facts, one has reasonable grounds for believing that the statements made by him with relation thereto are true, or, as defined by this court in Kansas & Texas Coal Co. v. Galloway, 71 Ark. 351, 74 S. W. 521, \u201cProbable cause is such a state of facts in the mind of the prosecutor as would lead a man of ordinary caution and prudence to believe or entertain an honest and strong suspicion that the person arrested is guilty.\u201d Applying this rule to the admissions made by the News and the undisputed facts which have been narrated, we conclude that the testimony fails to show want of probable cause within the meaning of the definition given. One who sues for malicious prosecution must establish not only that he was innocent of the charge but also that there was no probable cause for such-prosecution, and where the facts relied upon to constitute such cause are undisputed, the question is one of law for the court to determine and should not be submitted to the jury. St. L. I. M. & So. Ry. Co. v. Tyus, 96 Ark. 325, 131 S. W. 682; Whipple v. Gorsuch, 82 Ark. 252, 101 S. W. 735.\nAn application of these principles to the facts of this record forces the conclusion that all reasonable minds must agree that Gazzola had cause for entertaining an honest and strong suspicion that appellee was guilty of the crime charged. The facts of this case are no stronger for the appellee than those in the case of Keeby v. Stifft, 145 Ark. 8, 224 S. W. 396, where this court, on appeal, upheld the action of the trial court in directing a verdict for the defendant.\nJudgment is \u2022 reversed, and as the facts appear to have been fully developed the case is dismissed.", "type": "majority", "author": "Butler, J." } ], "attorneys": [ "C. F. Greenlee and W. W. Sharp, for appellant.", "Emmet Vaughan and D. D. Panich, for appellee." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "Gazzola v. New.\n4-3965\nOpinion delivered October 7, 1935.\nC. F. Greenlee and W. W. Sharp, for appellant.\nEmmet Vaughan and D. D. Panich, for appellee." }, "file_name": "0724-01", "first_page_order": 742, "last_page_order": 751 }