Monson v. Rouse

GILL, J. The petition in this case contained two counts — one for malicious prosecution and the other for false imprisonment. The first count, however, was. practically abandoned at the trial and the cause was submitted to a jury on the second count, resulting in a finding for the plaintiff for $112.50 actual damages and $750 exemplary damages, in all $862.50 against all the defendants and from a judgment accordingly defendants have appealed. The facts, briefly stated, are these: Plaintiff Monson, who was a farmer and retired merchant residing about twelve miles from Bucklin, Linn county, borrowed $500 [100] through one Craig as agent, giving a deed of trust on certain land, the title of which was reported good. On exchange of the papers Craig gave his check to Monson drawn on a bank at Linneus, and Monson at once went to the Bank of Bueklin and there indorsing the paper procured the cash thereon. The check in due course of mail was forwarded by the Bueklin bank to the Linneus bank, but on presentation, payment was refused and the check protested. The nonpayment of the check was in pursuance of orders from Craig, the drawer, who took this course by reason of having learned after the check was given to Monson that transcripts of certain justices’ judgments against Monson had been filed in the circuit clerk’s office, and had therefore become liens on Mon-son’s land prior to Craig’s mortgage. On the return of the protested check, the defendants, Rouse and Yanosdal, cashier and president respectively of the Bueklin bank, sought Monson and urged him to take up the dishonored check and return the money. Bailing in this, these officers then put the matter into the hands of their attorney, defendant Byrd. After repeating the effort to get Monson to pay or secure the money so advanced, the attorney went before a justice of the peace and induced that officer to issue a warrant for the arrest of Monson. The warrant was issued, too, without any information or affidavit as the law required, and charged Monson of conspiring with Craig “to defraud the Bank of Bueklin out of $491 by reason of a false token or check and did obtain the said sum from the Bank of Bueklin by virtue of said false token or check.” Under this warrant the constable arrested Monson, took him to Bueklin and there he was discharged on giving bail. The controversy over the dishonored check was subsequently settled and the so-called criminal proceeding abandoned. I. It seems clear, and is so conceded in the briefs of [101] both sides, that this plaintiff was wrongfully arrested and illegally restrained of his liberty. The justice had no right or authority to issue a warrant for the arrest of Monson until there was filed against him a sworn complaint as required by statute, section 2441, Revised Statutes 1899. This was then, according to every definition in the books, a false imprisonment, and the plaintiff is entitled to redress a3 against somebody. It is also well-settled law that the charge of false imprisonment is not confined to the party who exercises the manual power of seizing, restraining or confining another, but it likewise extends to such other person or persons who may cause, instigate or procure an unlawful seizure, restraint or imprisonment. And even though the injured party may have been arrested without such other person’s knowledge or consent, yet if the illegal restraint continue by and with the direction, advice and assistance of such'party, then he is liable for a false imprisonment. See title Ealse Imprisonment, 12 Am. and Eng. Ency. of Law (2 Ed.), page 751, and authorities cited. The evidence now, without contradiction, shows that the defendant Byrd was directly responsible for the unlawful arrest of the plaintiff. It was he that induced the magistrate to issue the warrant and it is equally clear that it was by his immediate direction that the constable executed the same by taking the body of the plaintiff into custody. The only disputed facts involved in this controversy relate to the question as to whether or not the other defendants, Rouse and Yanosdal, should be held as accomplices. In support of the verdict and judgment, holding the latter as parties to the wrong, it is sufficient to say that there was ample evidence to prove that the procuring of the warrant, as well as the illegal arrest, was done under the instigation, advice and direction of said Rouse and Yanosdal; and more than this, that [102] after plaintiff had been unlawfully arrested said defendants ratified and approved the act, and were parties to the continued imprisonment of the plaintiff. The testimony abundantly shows that all the defendants were jointly engaged in the unlawful act of using a criminal prosecution to collect a debt. II. As to the instructions given at plaintiff’s request, defendants’ counsel seems to object in the main that the court injected one or more elements not applicable to an action for false imprisonment — for example, that plaintiff’s second instruction required, not only that the arrest was illegal, but that the prosecution was malicious and without probable cause. As an abstract proposition the criticism is correct. In order to make a case of false imprisonment, malice and want of probable cause are not necessary ingredients; there may be false imprisonment without the existence of malice and want of probable cause. These are necessary in cases for malicious prosecution, but not in those for false imprisonment. But this error in the instructions complained of did not in any way prejudice the defense; it could do the defendants no possible harm; the court imposed an additional and unnecessary burden on the plaintiff. What is here said with reference to including malice and want of probable cause in plaintiff’s instructions applies likewise to instructions four and six defining malice, etc. It is not contended that the court incorrectly defined these terms, but it is insisted that they are not elements in this character of wrongs. Even conceding this, such instructions were not harmful to the defendants. But it may be answered here, as contended by plaintiff’s counsel, that malice and want of probable cause are pertinent on the question of measure of damages. Eor if the wrongful arrest and imprisonment were attended with [103] malice, ill will and oppression then snch elements may be considered in fixing and determining the extent of punitive damages. III. The further objection that the court erred in modifying several of defendants’ instructions, we think, is not well taken. As originally drafted these instructions would exculpate defendants unless they actively participated in the first instance in suing out the illegal warrant. The court so modified these instructions as to charge defendants for all future complicity in the continued wrongful imprisonment of the plaintiff — even though they or any of them may not have been active in the original wrongful arrest. This was clearly right. Other objections have been examined and found without substantial merit.. No prejudicial error having been committed, the judgment of the circuit court will be affirmed. All concur.