Helmy v. City of Jersey City

Argued November 3, 2003 A jury returned a verdict in favor of plaintiff Mohamed Helmy in connection with his claim for malicious prosecution against defendants, City of Jersey City, Jersey City Police Department and certain police officers. The trial court granted judgment notwithstanding the verdict (JNOV) and the Appellate Division affirmed. The gravamen of both opinions is that a disconnection between the jury's finding regarding Helmy's false arrest claim coupled with a directed verdict in favor of defendants on that count rendered the malicious prosecution verdict inconsistent and therefore invalid. We granted Helmy's petition for certification, Helmy v. City of Jersey City, 176 N.J. 278 (2003), and now reverse. I.