Mozzochi v. Beck
Connecticut Supreme Court
529 A.2d 171 (1987)
Charles Mozzochi (plaintiff) accused Walter Muszynski of falsifying his police-department application and wrongfully obtaining unemployment benefits; Muszynski, represented by attorneys Beck and Eldergill (defendants), sued Mozzochi for defamation, and after that litigation concluded, Mozzochi sued Beck and Eldergill for abuse of process, alleging they had continued pursuing Muszynski's lawsuit even after learning Mozzochi's original accusations were true, doing so to injure Mozzochi and enrich themselves. The trial court granted the attorneys' motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim, and Mozzochi appealed.
Whether the tort of abuse of process requires the use of a legal process against another primarily to accomplish a purpose for which the process is not designed.