Supreme Court reaffirms Fourth Amendment route for malicious-prosecution claims, remands causation questions

Summary

In a 6'03 decision discussed on the Federal Judicial Center's Term Talk podcast, the Supreme Court held that malicious-prosecution claims can proceed under the Fourth Amendment and ruled that probable cause for some charges does not automatically shield other charges; the Court remanded causation issues to the Sixth Circuit.

The Supreme Court held in a 6'03 decision that a malicious-prosecution claim may proceed under the Fourth Amendment and that the existence of probable cause for some charges does not necessarily insulate other charges from such claims, the guests on the Federal Judicial Center's Term Talk podcast explained.

Francesca Williams, education attorney for executive education at the Federal Judicial Center, moderated the discussion with Laurie Levinson, a law professor, and Evan Lee, an emeritus professor at University of California Law, San Francisco. The panel framed the ruling around two central questions: whether the Fourth Amendment supplies a route for malicious-prosecution suits and whether valid charges defeat claims based on other, allegedly illegitimate charges.

Laurie Levinson summarized the factual backdrop. The plaintiff, Ciaverini, who owned a jewelry store, refused to return a ring and in conversations with police acknowledged operating the business without a license. Police charged him with misdemeanors…

Supreme Court reaffirms Fourth Amendment route for malicious-prosecution claims, remands causation questions

Summary

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