{
  "id": 8654326,
  "name": "ISAAC SMITH v. EASTERN BUILDING AND LOAN ASSOCIATION OF SYRACUSE",
  "name_abbreviation": "Smith v. Eastern Building & Loan Ass'n",
  "decision_date": "1895-02",
  "docket_number": "",
  "first_page": "73",
  "last_page": "75",
  "citations": [
    {
      "type": "official",
      "cite": "116 N.C. 73"
    }
  ],
  "court": {
    "name_abbreviation": "N.C.",
    "id": 9292,
    "name": "Supreme Court of North Carolina"
  },
  "jurisdiction": {
    "id": 5,
    "name_long": "North Carolina",
    "name": "N.C."
  },
  "cites_to": [
    {
      "cite": "51 N. C., 545",
      "category": "reporters:state",
      "reporter": "N.C.",
      "case_ids": [
        11278728
      ],
      "opinion_index": 0,
      "case_paths": [
        "/nc/51/0545-01"
      ]
    }
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  "last_updated": "2023-07-14T15:04:38.706573+00:00",
  "provenance": {
    "date_added": "2019-08-29",
    "source": "Harvard",
    "batch": "2018"
  },
  "casebody": {
    "judges": [],
    "parties": [
      "ISAAC SMITH v. EASTERN BUILDING AND LOAN ASSOCIATION OF SYRACUSE."
    ],
    "opinions": [
      {
        "text": "Montgomery, J.:\nThe plaintiff was arrested by the defendants on a warrant issued by a justice of the peace which chai\u2019ged him with forgery, and upon examination was discharged for want of probable cause. The plaintiff thereupon brought this action against the defendant to recover damages for a malicious prosecution of him. Upon the second issue, \u201cWas there probable cause for the prosecution '?\u201d the Court told the jury \u201cthat if they believed that L. J. Moore was a lawyer and counselor of good standing, which is not disputed in the argument in this case, and Reynolds the general manager of the defendant went to Mr. Moore with Ward, and then and there Reynolds made a full, clear and frank statement of the matter, Ward\u2019s statement was taken after careful examination- by the attorney, and they had reason to place confidence and trust in what Ward said and honestly believed it to be true, and that without any express malice upon the part of Reynolds towards Smith, but under Moore\u2019s advice the warrant was made out upon Ward\u2019s affidavit, that would be probable cause; th e prima facie case resulting from the dismissal of the warrant would be rebutted, and it would be your duty to answer the issue yes.\u201d To this instruction the plaintiff excepted. The discharge of the plaintiff in the said criminal proceeding against him by the defendants made a prima faoie case for the plaintiff, he standing after his discharge without even a suspicion against him strong enough to bind him over to court, and the dismissal by the justice proving a presumption in favor of plaintiff\u2019s innocence. This being so, the onus of proving the existence of probable cause was'thrown on the' defendants and His Honor should have so instructed the jury. His Honor should also have charged the jury that the employment by the defendant of an attorney before the warrant was issued and their following his advice, did not have the effect of rebutting the prima facie case of the plaintiff, but that it should be considered by them (nly as evidence to rebut the implication of malice (Davenport v. Leach, 51 N. C., 545) leaving that question, as well as the one of probable cause to be heard on all the facts and circumstances properly siibmitted to them.\nThere was error in the instruction complained of, and the plaintiff is entitled to a new trial.\nNew Trial.",
        "type": "majority",
        "author": "Montgomery, J.:"
      }
    ],
    "attorneys": [
      "Mr. W. W. Clark, for plaintiff (appellant).",
      "Mr. M. BeW. Stevenson,' for defendants."
    ],
    "corrections": "",
    "head_matter": "ISAAC SMITH v. EASTERN BUILDING AND LOAN ASSOCIATION OF SYRACUSE.\nAction for Malicious Prosecution \u2014 Probadle Cause\u2014 Burden of Proof \u2014 Malice.\n1. The discharge of a person arrested on a warrant by a justice of the peace for want of sufficient proof, easts the burden of showing probable cause for his arrest upon the person who instigated the criminal proceeding.\n3. \"Where, in the trial of an action for malicious prosecution, it appeared that the defendant had in good faith consulted a lawyer of good standing, who, upon a frank and full statement of the alleged facts by one conversant with them, advised the prosecution, whereupon the defendant without personal malice caused the plaintiff to be arrested, it was error in the trial Judge to instruct the jury that such circumstances constituted probable cause. The instruction should have been that such circumstances did not rebut the prima facie case of plaintiff but should only be considered by the jury .as evidence to rebut the implication of malice.\nCivil ACTION for damages, for malicious prosecution, tried before Brown, J., and a jury, at Fall Term, 1894, of Cea YEN Superior Court. There was verdict'for the defendant and refusal of a motion for a new trial. The plaintiff appealed. The facts and errors complained of appear in the opinion of Associate Justice Montgomery.\nMr. W. W. Clark, for plaintiff (appellant).\nMr. M. BeW. Stevenson,' for defendants."
  },
  "file_name": "0073-01",
  "first_page_order": 101,
  "last_page_order": 103
}