Wingster v. Huntley's Jiffy Stores, Inc.

Court of Appeals of Georgia

Wingster v. Huntley's Jiffy Stores, Inc.

407 S.E.2d 481, 200 Ga. App. 252, 1991 Ga. App. LEXIS 949

CourtCourt of Appeals of Georgia

DecidedJune 28, 1991

DocketA91A0523

StatusPublished

Cited by1 cases

This text of 407 S.E.2d 481 (Wingster v. Huntley's Jiffy Stores, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Georgia primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

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Wingster v. Huntley's Jiffy Stores, Inc., 407 S.E.2d 481, 200 Ga. App. 252, 1991 Ga. App. LEXIS 949 (Ga. Ct. App. 1991).

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Opinion

Cooper, Judge.

Following his acquittal by a jury on charges of armed robbery, appellant brought an action for malicious prosecution against appellee. The trial court, citing Monroe v. Sigler, 256 Ga. 759 (353 SE2d 23) (1987), granted summary judgment to appellee, and this appeal followed.

In two enumerations of error, appellant contends that the trial court erred in granting appellee’s motion for summary judgment. At the conclusion of appellant’s criminal trial, appellant’s attorney moved for a directed verdict of acquittal and the trial court denied the motion. “In Monroe, the Supreme Court held that one of the essential elements of an action for malicious prosecution, the lack of probable cause (see OCGA § 51-7-40), cannot be established as a matter of law if in the preceding criminal action the court denied the claimant’s motion for directed verdict of acquittal and that ruling stands unreversed and untainted by fraud or corruption. [Cit.]” Davis v. Trusthouse &c. Worldwide, 195 Ga. App. 768 (1) (395 SE2d 235) (1990). Appellant argues that by denying his motion for acquittal, the trial judge in his criminal trial found that the in-court identification was sufficient but made no finding on the merits of the case. Therefore, appellant argues, the trial judge in his malicious prosecution case erred in applying Monroe v. Sigler. We disagree. This case is directly controlled by the holding in Monroe v. Sigler, and “[g]iven that Monroe established a mandatory inference to be drawn under the circumstances here, we affirm the trial court’s grant of summary judgment to appellees.” Davis, supra at 770.

Judgment affirmed.

Birdsong, P. J., and Pope, J., concur.

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Cooper, Judge.

Following his acquittal by a jury on charges of armed robbery, appellant brought an action for malicious prosecution against appellee. The trial court, citing Monroe v. Sigler, 256 Ga. 759 (353 SE2d 23) (1987), granted summary judgment to appellee, and this appeal followed.

In two enumerations of error, appellant contends that the trial court erred in granting appellee’s motion for summary judgment. At the conclusion of appellant’s criminal trial, appellant’s attorney moved for a directed verdict of acquittal and the trial court denied the motion. “In Monroe, the Supreme Court held that one of the essential elements of an action for malicious prosecution, the lack of probable cause (see OCGA § 51-7-40), cannot be established as a matter of law if in the preceding criminal action the court denied the claimant’s motion for directed verdict of acquittal and that ruling stands unreversed and untainted by fraud or corruption. [Cit.]” Davis v. Trusthouse &c. Worldwide, 195 Ga. App. 768 (1) (395 SE2d 235) (1990). Appellant argues that by denying his motion for acquittal, the trial judge in his criminal trial found that the in-court identification was sufficient but made no finding on the merits of the case. Therefore, appellant argues, the trial judge in his malicious prosecution case erred in applying Monroe v. Sigler. We disagree. This case is directly controlled by the holding in Monroe v. Sigler, and “[g]iven that Monroe established a mandatory inference to be drawn under the circumstances here, we affirm the trial court’s grant of summary judgment to appellees.” Davis, supra at 770.

Judgment affirmed.

Birdsong, P. J., and Pope, J., concur.

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407 S.E.2d 481, 200 Ga. App. 252, 1991 Ga. App. LEXIS 949, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/wingster-v-huntleys-jiffy-stores-inc-gactapp-1991.

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