Fuller v City of Buffalo

Holding The court affirmed summary judgment in favor of the City defendants, determining that probable cause existed for the plaintiff’s arrest based on witness statements and officer testimony. Consequently, the defendants were entitled to qualified immunity, and the claims for false arrest, malicious prosecution, and abuse of process were properly dismissed.

The court’s words

The existence of probable cause constitutes a complete defense to causes of action alleging false arrest[] malicious prosecution

2026 NY Slip Op 05881, at the official text

Generally, probable cause is established where an identified crime victim communicates to the arresting officer information affording a credible ground for believing the offense was committed and identifies the accused as the perpetrator

2026 NY Slip Op 05881, at the official text

the issue of probable cause is a question of law to be decided by the court only where there is no real dispute as to the facts or the proper inferences to be drawn from such facts

2026 NY Slip Op 05881, at the official text