Johnson County Rural Elec. Membership Corp. v. Burnell

• Decision Date: 06 November 1985
• Docket Number: No. 4-385A52,4-385A52
• Citation: 484 N.E.2d 989
• Parties: JOHNSON COUNTY RURAL ELECTRIC MEMBERSHIP CORPORATION, Appellant (Defendant Below), v. Jack W. BURNELL and Betty J. Burnell, Appellees (Plaintiff Below).
• Court: Indiana Appellate Court

Page 989

484 N.E.2d 989

JOHNSON COUNTY RURAL ELECTRIC MEMBERSHIP CORPORATION Appellant (Defendant Below), v. Jack W. BURNELL and Betty J. Burnell, Appellees (Plaintiff Below).

No. 4-385A52.

Court of Appeals of Indiana Fourth District.

Nov. 6, 1985.

Friedrich A.P. Siekert, Kightlinger, Young, Gray & Detrude, Indianapolis, for appellant.

MILLER, Judge.

Jack and Betty Burnell sued the Johnson County Rural Electric Membership Corporation (REMC) for malicious prosecution after Jack was found not guilty of the criminal charge of converting REMC's power. The criminal court, however, initially determined probable cause existed for Jack's arrest. REMC introduced the probable cause determination by the criminal court and moved for summary judgment, which the trial court denied. We reverse.

FACTS

From August 3 to October 11, 1982, the Burnells were member customers of REMC. During that time, REMC supplied electricity for the Burnells' residence. On October 6, 1982, however, REMC disconnected the Burnells' service for non-payment of past due bills. REMC accomplished this by installing a disconnect plate, disengaging the meter, and padlocking the meter base.

When REMC employees checked the Burnell residence on October 11, 1982, they discovered the padlock had been cut, the disconnect plate was missing, and the meter had been reinstalled. REMC determined 187 kilowatt hours of electricity had been consumed from October 6 until October 11. Moreover Dwight Land, the property owner, told REMC he had been at the Burnell residence on October 9 and the electricity had been on. He also stated he had used a power tool in the presence of Jack at the time. Finally, REMC had neither authorized nor given the Burnells permission to reconnect and use its electricity.

This sequence of events resulted in the Johnson County prosecutor filing an information for deception against Jack. The criminal court found probable cause existed for the arrest of Jack after hearing the testimony of Danny Arnold, a general manager of REMC. Upon the state's motion, however, the cause was dismissed without prejudice.

Later the state filed an information for conversion against Jack. Again, the criminal court found probable cause existed at a probable cause hearing. After holding a trial without a jury and taking the matter under advisement, the criminal court found Jack not guilty.

The Burnells then sued REMC for malicious prosecution, seeking compensatory and punitive damages. REMC moved for summary judgment on the basis of the criminal court's finding of probable cause. The trial court denied REMC's motion and REMC appealed. ¹

DECISION

Our disposition of the issue has been made more difficult by the fact we have not been favored with an appellee brief. Instead of imposing upon this court the burden of controverting arguments advanced for reversal, however, Indiana courts have long applied a less stringent standard of review with respect to showings of reversible error when the appellee fails to file a brief. Appellant REMC need only establish the lower court committed prima facie error to win reversal. Indiana State Board of Health v. Lakeland Disposal Service, Inc. (1984), Ind.App., 461 N.E.2d 1145, 1145 n. 1. In this context, "prima facie" means at first sight, on first appearance, or on the face of it. Harrington v. Hartman (1968), 142 Ind.App. 87, 88, 233 N.E.2d 189, 191 (quoting Ellet v. Ellet (1965), 137 Ind.App. 96, 98, 205 N.E.2d 555, 556). Likewise, the statement of facts contained in REMC's brief is deemed by us to be accurate and sufficient for the disposition of this appeal. Colley v. Carpenter (1977), 172 Ind.App. 638, 362 N.E.2d 163.

The rules stated above are not for the benefit of the appellant. These rules have been established for the protection of the court so that the court might be relieved of the burden of controverting the arguments advanced for reversal where such burden rests upon the appellee. The application of these rules is discretionary and dependent upon the appellant's having made a prima facie showing of error in his brief. Ligon Specialized Hauler v. Hott (1979), 179 Ind.App. 134, 384 N.E.2d 1071.

In looking for prima facie error where the trial court denied a motion for summary judgment, we must determine whether a genuine issue of material fact existed and whether the moving party was entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Garrett v. City of Bloomington (1985), Ind.App., 478 N.E.2d 89. In resolving the first part of this test--a genuine issue of material fact--the record indicates no dispute between the parties as to the facts of the case. REMC introduced a certified copy of the criminal court's minute sheet containing two pertinent entries which stated:

"D. Charles Gantz files information for Deception. State of Indiana appears by Deputy Prosecuting Attorney. Probable cause hearing is had. Court finds probable cause exists for the arrest of Defendant on a charge of Deception. Court orders a warrant issued for Defendant. Bond $1,000.00.

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Kevin Bartin files information for Conversion. State of Indiana appears by Deputy Prosecuting Attorney. Probable cause hearing is had. Court finds probable cause exists for the arrest of Defendant on a charge of Conversion. Clerk is directed to issue Alias Criminal Summons for Jack W. Burnell, 5234 West CR 700N. Greenwood, IN by Sheriff of Johnson County, IN. Defendant is ordered to appear for Initial Hearing on August 29, 1983 at 6:30 p.m."

Record, pp. 23-24 (emphasis added). In response, the Burnells submitted certified transcripts of the two probable cause hearings. Neither party disputed the accuracy or truthfulness of the other's copy or transcript from the criminal proceedings, and the material submitted is not conflicting or contradictory but rather is consistent. Thus, we conclude there is no genuine issue of material fact.

Next we consider whether REMC is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. In Wong v. Tabor (1981), Ind.App., 422 N.E.2d 1279, we stated:

"The essential elements of malicious prosecution are well established. The plaintiff has the burden of proving (a) the defendant instituted, or caused to be instituted, a prosecution against the plaintiff...