Malicious prosecution is a civil lawsuit in which someone who has been wrongfully accused of a crime or sued for civil damages seeks compensation for the harm caused by the unfounded legal action. To establish a claim for malicious prosecution, the plaintiff must prove the following elements: The defendant initiated or continued a criminal or civil legal proceeding against the plaintiff. The proceeding lacked probable cause, meaning there was no reasonable basis for the legal action. The defendant acted with malice, meaning he or she had an improper motive or acted recklessly without regard for the plaintiff's rights. The legal action terminated in favor of the plaintiff, meaning the criminal charges were dismissed, or the plaintiff was acquitted of the charges, or the civil lawsuit was dismissed or resolved in the plaintiff's favor. The plaintiff suffered damages, such as emotional distress, lost income, or damage to reputation, as a result of the malicious prosecution. Tortious interference with contractual relations is another tort that involves intentionally interfering with another party's contractual relationship for an improper purpose or with malice. Unlike malicious prosecution, tortious interference does not require the initiation or continuation of a legal proceeding.