McPherson v. Runyon

Dickinson., J. 1

This is an appeal from an order sustaining a gen■eral demurrer to the complaint. The cause of action for which a recovery is' sought is the malicious prosecution, by this defendant against this plaintiff, of an action in replevin in a justice’s court, and the malicious seizure of this plaintiff’s property by writ of replevin in that action. It is not' claimed that the complaint does not set forth facts showing a right of recovery, if a separate action may be maintained for such cause. The demurrer rests upon the propositions, contended for by the respondent, that the cause of action here asserted was a mere incident of the original action of replevin; that whatever damages this plaintiff might have been entitled to recover for the cause here alleged were recoverable only in that action; *525 ancl that the judgment therein in favor of this plaintiff is a harto the recovery now sought. Sylte v. Nelson, 26 Minn. 105 , ( 1 N. W. Rep. 811 ,) and Ward v. Anderberg, 36 Minn. 300 , ( 30 N. W. Rep. 890 ,) are relied upon in support of this contention. The respondent does not claim that for the prosecution of a civil action, maliciously and without probable cause, a defendant may not in general maintain an action for damages. We have recognized such rights of action'in cases where the defendant’s property was attached,' — Burton. v. St. Paul, M. & M. Ry. Co., 33 Minn. 189 , ( 22 N. W. Rep. 300 ,) and. Cochrane v. Quackenbush, 29 Minn. 376 , ( 13 N. W. Rep. 154 ;) — and. if Inhere were peculiar reasons, based upon the fact of the attachment, justifying an action in such cases, it is not perceived why they are hot equally applicable where, as in this case, the defendant’s property was seized under a writ of replevin. That an action will lie in such, a case was held in Wills v. Noyes, 12 Pick. 324 ; and this was also* recognized in Magmer v. Renk, 65 Wis. 364 , ( 27 N. W. Rep. 26 .)

We do not, however, place our decision upon this limited ground* but upon the broader proposition that for the prosecution of a civiL action maliciously and without probable cause, to the injury of the* •defendant, he may maintain an action for damages, although there* was no interference with his person or property. Pangburn v. Bull, 1 Wend. 345 ; Whipple v. Fuller, 11 Conn. 582 ; Closson v. Staples, 42 Vt. 209 ; Eastin v. Bank of Stockton, 66 Cal. 123 , (4 Pac. Rep.. 1106;) Allen v. Codman, 139 Mass. 136 ; Marbourg v. Smith, 11 Kan. 554 ; Woods v. Finnell, 13 Bush. 628; Pope v. Pollock, (Ohio,) 21 N. E. Rep. 356; McCardle v. McGinley, 86 Ind. 538 . The reasons for this conclusion are well set forth in Whipple v. Fuller and in Closson v. Staples, supra. See, also, 21 Am. Law Reg. (N. S.) 281 , 353.

The decision in Sylte v. Nelson , followed in Ward v. Anderberg,. has not the effect ascribed to it by the respondent. It was there decided that a defendant’s assertion in an action of replevin of the right to a return of the property taken from him, and to damages for the* taking and detention, did not constitute a counterclaim in such action. It was said also in the opinion that this was not a cause off action in itself upon which the defendant could maintain an action.. *526 This decision and the language of the court, relating merely to the ordinary claim of a defendant in replevin to have his property restored to him, with damages for the taking and detention, as an incident in that action, has no bearing upon the question as to whether an action will lie for the malicious prosecution of an action of replevin. For such a cause, indeed, no action could be maintained, or recovery had, until the replevin action should have terminated in favor of the defendant, (O’Brien v. Barry, 106 Mass. 300 ,) and of course the right of recovery for the malicious prosecution could not be asserted as a counterclaim in that same action. It is of course true that but one recovery can be allowed for the same cause; and the damages for the taking and detention, once awarded to the defendant in the original action, cannot be again assessed in an action for malicious prosecution. But the measure of recovery in the latter action is not confined to the injury from the taking or detention of the property. To what particular subjects the proof of damages should be directed or confined, under the allegations of this complaint, no question has been raised, and we do not decide.

Order reversed.

Collins, J., did not sit in this case.