Opinion
April 9, 1990
Appeal from the Supreme Court, Suffolk County (Hand, J.).
Ordered that the order is affirmed, with costs to the defendants.
The plaintiffs' cause of action to recover damages for malicious prosecution is predicated upon the defendants' filing of a notice of pendency in the related action (see, Majestic Farms Supply v. Surowiec, 160 A.D.2d 777 [decided herewith]). The defendants filed the notice of pendency because of a dispute with Richard A. Surowiec, the landlord of a shopping center, when he refused to recognize their right of first refusal over a part of the premises located at 861-863 West Jericho Turnpike in Suffolk County. Those premises were subsequently purchased by the plaintiffs, who assert that they were damaged by the continuation, maliciously and without reasonable cause, by the defendants of the notice of pendency. The defendants, on the other hand, characterize the plaintiffs' actions as frivolous and seek costs.
The essential elements of a cause of action to recover damages for malicious prosecution arising from a civil action are: (1) the commencement and prosecution of a judicial proceeding against the plaintiff, (2) by or at the instance of the defendant, (3) without probable cause, (4) with malice, (5) which has terminated in favor of the plaintiff in the malicious prosecution action, (6) to his injury, and (7) that the plaintiff suffered interference with his person or property (see, Oceanside Enters. v. Capobianco, 146 A.D.2d 685; Molinoff v. Sassower, 99 A.D.2d 528, 529; Ellman v. McCarty, 70 A.D.2d 150, 155). Because the plaintiffs here were not the successful parties in the prior action (see, Majestic Farms Supply v. Surowiec, supra), they fail to satisfy all of these elements. Thus, the complaint was properly dismissed.
After review of the record, we find the defendants' request for costs to be utterly without merit (see, Ford Motor Credit Co. v Hickey Ford Sales, 62 N.Y.2d 291). Mangano, P.J., Thompson, Bracken and Balletta, JJ., concur.