McQueary v. Atlanta Airlines Terminal Corp.

• Decision Date: 10 January 1991
• Citation: 401 S.E.2d 333,198 Ga.App. 318
• Parties: McQUEARY v. ATLANTA AIRLINES TERMINAL CORPORATION. A90A1644.
• Court: Georgia Court of Appeals

Page 333

401 S.E.2d 333

198 Ga.App. 318

McQUEARY v. ATLANTA AIRLINES TERMINAL CORPORATION.

A90A1644.

Court of Appeals of Georgia.

Jan. 10, 1991.

Oliver, Duckworth, Sparger & Winkle, David P. Winkle, Jonesboro, for appellant.

Long, Weinberg, Ansley & Wheeler, James S. Strawinski, Atlanta, Yvette M. Chapman, Chamblee, for appellee.

CARLEY, Judge.

Appellant-plaintiff brought suit against appellee-defendant, alleging claims for malicious arrest, malicious prosecution and false imprisonment. The trial court granted appellee's motion for summary judgment on all claims and appellant appeals.

1. Appellant urges that a genuine issue of material fact remains as to his claims for malicious arrest and malicious prosecution.

" 'Malicious prosecution differs from malicious arrest only in that in the former case there must be a carrying on of the prosecution.' [Cit.] In either action, however, it is essential to show [the absence of probable cause]. [Cits.]" Hatcher v. Moree, 133 Ga.App. 14(1), 209 S.E.2d 708 (1974). Accordingly, if appellee met its burden of showing that no genuine issue of material fact remained as to the existence of probable cause for appellant's arrest and prosecution, the trial court correctly granted summary judgment as to those claims.

The evidence, construed most favorably for appellant, shows the following: On the date of his arrest, appellant was an airline pilot. In order to park in a special lot at the airport, he and other airline employees were required to show a valid employee identification card and to display a parking "medallion." The medallions were issued by appellee in its capacity as operator of the parking lot. Appellant had been issued medallion Number 02423. However, the medallion that was displayed on the rearview mirror of his automobile was numbered 03333. Appellant was detained at the gate to the parking lot because medallion Number 03333 had been reported as stolen. Appellant's only explanation for this suspicious circumstance was that he had been issued the displayed medallion by his employer about one month earlier. A police officer was called to the scene and, after it was determined that appellant had not been issued medallion Number 03333, he was arrested for theft by receiving stolen property. At the time of appellant's arrest, appellee was already in the process of swearing out warrants for the arrest of three others who had been found in possession of stolen medallions.

" 'Whether the circumstances alleged to show probable cause existed is a matter of fact, to be determined by the jury, but whether they amount to probable cause is a question of law for the court.' [Cits.] The material facts in this case were essentially undisputed. Therefore, whether or not probable cause existed was for determination by the court. [Cit.].... ' "[T]he question is, not whether [appellant] was guilty, but whether [appellee] had reasonable cause to so believe--whether the circumstances were such as to create in the mind of [appellee] a reasonable belief that there was probable cause for the prosecution. (Cit.) Probable cause is defined to be the existence of such facts and circumstances as would excite the belief in a reasonable mind, that the person charged was guilty of the crime for which he was prosecuted." ' [Cit.]" (Emphasis in original.) Melton v. LaCalamito, 158 Ga.App. 820, 823-824(2b), 282 S.E.2d 393 (1981).

Since it is undisputed that appellant was in possession of the recently stolen medallion, appellee correctly contends that "it could not be said that there was no reasonable cause to believe that [appellant] was guilty of a crime." McMillan v. Day Realty Assoc., 159 Ga.App. 366, 367, 283 S.E.2d 298 (1981). Appellant, on the other hand, contends that appellee had an obligation to investigate further before actually arresting him. " 'The defendant is not necessarily required to verify his information, where it appears to be reliable; but where a reasonable man would investigate further before beginning the prosecution, he may be liable for failure to do so. All such factors as the reliability of the source, the availability of further information and the difficulty of obtaining it, the reputation of the accused, and his opportunity to offer an explanation, and the apparent necessity of prompt action, are to be considered in determining whether it was reasonable to act without verification.' [Cit.]" Melton v. LaCalamito, supra 158 Ga.App. at 824(2b), 282 S.E.2d 393.

The evidence is undisputed that, prior to the arrest, appellee did verify that the medallion possessed by appellant had been reported stolen and that appellant had been issued a different medallion. In these circumstances, appellee was clearly not required to believe appellant's explanation that he had been issued the medallion in his possession, which explanation was in fact untrue. See Fisher v. Kentucky Fried Chicken, 175 Ga.App. 542, 545, 333 S.E.2d 877 (1985). Compare Melton v. LaCalamito, supra 158 Ga.App. at 824(2b), 282 S.E.2d 393. Insofar as appellant's explanation implies his lack of knowledge that the medallion in his possession was one which had been stolen rather than the one which had been issued to him, such a lack of knowledge "was not capable of independent verification.... If there was probable cause to believe that appellant was [guilty of theft by receiving stolen property], appellee cannot be held civilly liable for requiring that a jury in a criminal proceeding determine the credibility of [his] explanation.... [Cit.]" Arnold v. Eckerd Drugs of Ga., 183 Ga.App. 211, 212-13, 358 S.E.2d 632 (1987). Compare Atlantic Zayre v. Meeks, 194 Ga.App. 267, 269(1), 390 S.E.2d 398 (1990). No genuine issue of material fact...