Napier v. Sheridan

Plaintiff sued defendant for both false arrest and malicious prosecution. The trial court directed a verdict of liability on the false-arrest cause of action, and the jury awarded damages. The jury returned a verdict in favor of the plaintiff on the malicious-prosecution cause of action and awarded damages. Defendant contends that he was entitled to a directed verdict on both causes and that plaintiff was not entitled to a directed verdict on the false-arrest action.

The facts are as follows: Plaintiff was employed by one Praggastis to perform a variety of services. In connection with logging…