New York Court of Appeals

John M. Dennis, Respondent v. Charles Ryan, Appellant

May 5, 187565 N.Y. 385

Summary

The New York Court of Appeals affirmed the lower court's judgment for the plaintiff, holding that a defendant who makes a false and malicious accusation that does not constitute a crime is still liable for malicious prosecution because he is the procuring cause of the indictment and arrest. Two dissenting opinions argued that liability should not arise when the alleged conduct does not amount to a crime.