Donohoe Construction Co. v. Mount Vernon Associates

The dispositive issues in this appeal are whether (1) the filing of a memorandum of mechanic’s lien is a “judicial proceeding” entitling the claimant to the defense of absolute privilege in a suit for slander of title, and (2) the evidence is sufficient to support a jury’s finding of abuse of process.

Mount Vernon Associates (Mount Vernon) sued Donohoe Construction Co., Inc. (Donohoe), alleging slander of title and abuse of process arising from Donohoe’s filing of an invalid mechanic’s lien against Mount Vernon’s property. A jury returned a verdict for Mount Vernon, assessing compensatory…