Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes

42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 8351 (2026)

Wrongful use of civil proceedings.

✓ current as of May 2026

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SUBCHAPTER E

WRONGFUL USE OF CIVIL PROCEEDINGS

Sec.

8351. Wrongful use of civil proceedings.

8352. Existence of probable cause.

8353. Damages.

8354. Burden of proof.

8355. Certification of pleadings, motions and other papers.

Enactment. Subchapter E was added December 19, 1980, P.L.1296, No.232, effective in 60 days.

Applicability. Section 2 of Act 232 of 1980 provided that Subchapter E shall be applicable to causes of action accruing after the effective date of Act 232.

Cross References. Subchapter E is referred to in section 62A20 of this title; section 6122 of Title 23 (Domestic Relations).

§ 8351. Wrongful use of civil proceedings.

(a) Elements of action.--A person who takes part in the procurement, initiation or continuation of civil proceedings against another is subject to liability to the other for wrongful use of civil proceedings:

(1) he acts in a grossly negligent manner or without probable cause and primarily for a purpose other than that of securing the proper discovery, joinder of parties or adjudication of the claim in which the proceedings are based; and

(2) the proceedings have terminated in favor of the person against whom they are brought.

(b) Arrest or seizure of person or property not required.--The arrest or seizure of the person or property of the plaintiff shall not be a necessary element for an action brought pursuant to this subchapter.

Cross References. Section 8351 is referred to in section 8353 of this title.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 186 cases (44 in the last 5 years), 1982–2026 · leading case: Villani v. Seibert Appeal of: Seibert, 159 A.3d 478 (Pa. 2017).

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Villani v. Seibert Appeal of: Seibert, 159 A.3d 478 (Pa. 2017). · cites it 6× “” 42 Pa.C.S. § 8351. . See Pa.R.P.C. § 3.1 ("A lawyer shall not bring or defend a proceeding, or assert or controvert an issue therein, unless there is a basis in law and fact for doing so that is not frivolous, which includes a good faith argument for an extension, modification…”

McNeil v. Jordan, 894 A.2d 1260 (Pa. 2006). · cites it 4× “A person who takes part in the procurement, initiation or continuation of civil proceedings against another is subject to liability to the other for wrongful use of civil proceedings [where]: (1) He acts in a grossly negligent manner or without probable cause and primarily for…”

Stone Crushed P'ship v. Kassab Archbold Jackson & O'Brien, 908 A.2d 875 (Pa. 2006). · cites it 4× “[3] Before the Superior Court issued its decision regarding the appeal, Appellant filed an action in February of 2000, alleging wrongful use of civil proceedings and abuse of process pursuant to 42 Pa.C.S. § 8351. [4] Appellant Jackson seeks consequential, exemplary, and…”

Freundlich & Litman, LLC v. Feierstein, E., 157 A.3d 526 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2017). · cites it 4× “Here, Appellants bring claims for wrongful use of civil proceedings, pursuant to 42 Pa.C.S. § 8351 et seq., and common law actions for abuse and misuse of process.”

Keystone Freight Corp. v. Stricker, 31 A.3d 967 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2011). · cites it 5× “Sellers, Esquire (“Sellers”) and Kardos, Rickies, Bidling-maier & Bidlingmaier f/k/a Kardos, Rick-ies, Sellers & Hand (“Kardos”) (hereinafter referenced together as “Appellees”) and dismissed Keystone Freight’s Drago-netti action for wrongful use of civil proceedings pursuant to…”

Di Loreto v. Costigan, 600 F. Supp. 2d 671 (E.D. Pa. 2009). · cites it 6× “Specifically, although Plaintiff charges Defendant Costigan with both abuse of process under the Dragonetti Act and intentional infliction of emotional distress, neither of these allegations states a cognizable legal claim.”

Rosen v. Am. Bank of Rolla, 627 A.2d 190 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1993). · cites it 4× “— A person who takes part in the procurement, initiation or continuation of civil proceedings against another is subject to liability to the other for wrongful use of civil proceedings: (1) He acts in a grossly negligent manner or without probable cause and primarily for a…”

Poskin v. TD Banknorth, N.A., 687 F. Supp. 2d 530 (W.D. Pa. 2009). · cites it 5× “Count TV Count IV of plaintiffs’ complaint alleges a violation 42 Pa. Cons.Stat. § 8351, the Pennsylvania state tort of wrongful use of civil proceeding.”

Gentzler v. Atlee, 660 A.2d 1378 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1995). · cites it 6× “After the Doe case was terminated in favor of Gentzler, Gentzler filed this action for wrongful use of civil proceedings against Atlee pursuant to 42 Pa.C.S. § 8351 et seq. (the “Act”). The Act provides the elements of the cause of action: (a) Elements of action.”

Hvizdak, R. v. Linn, D., 190 A.3d 1213 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2018). · cites it 2× “Unlike an action for wrongful use of civil proceedings under 42 Pa.C.S. § 8351, the tort of abuse of process does not require the plaintiff to demonstrate that the underlying action terminated in his favor.”

P.J.A. v. H.C.N., 156 A.3d 284 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2017). · cites it 2× “” 42 Pa.C.S. § 8351(a). In normal litigation, “New Matter” does none of those things.”

Majorsky v. Douglas, 58 A.3d 1250 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2012). · cites it 2× “42 Pa.C.S. § 8351. Id. at 311. From the facts of record, there was never a final determination against Mr.”

Show all 186 citing cases →

— 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 8351(4) — 1 case

Harris v. Stark & Stark, 34 Pa. D. & C.5th 567 (2013).

— 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 8351(a) — 49 cases

Villani v. Seibert Appeal of: Seibert, 159 A.3d 478 (Pa. 2017). “” 42 Pa.C.S. § 8351. . See Pa.R.P.C. § 3.1 ("A lawyer shall not bring or defend a proceeding, or assert or controvert an issue therein, unless there is a basis in law and fact for doing so that is not frivolous, which includes a good faith argument for an extension, modification…”

Hvizdak, R. v. Linn, D., 190 A.3d 1213 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2018). “Unlike an action for wrongful use of civil proceedings under 42 Pa.C.S. § 8351, the tort of abuse of process does not require the plaintiff to demonstrate that the underlying action terminated in his favor.”

P.J.A. v. H.C.N., 156 A.3d 284 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2017). “” 42 Pa.C.S. § 8351(a). In normal litigation, “New Matter” does none of those things.”

Phelps, N. v. Caperoon, L., 190 A.3d 1230 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2018).

Freundlich & Litman, LLC v. Feierstein, E., 157 A.3d 526 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2017). “Here, Appellants bring claims for wrongful use of civil proceedings, pursuant to 42 Pa.C.S. § 8351 et seq., and common law actions for abuse and misuse of process.”

— 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 8351(a)(1) — 15 cases

Stone Crushed P'ship v. Kassab Archbold Jackson & O'Brien, 908 A.2d 875 (Pa. 2006). “[3] Before the Superior Court issued its decision regarding the appeal, Appellant filed an action in February of 2000, alleging wrongful use of civil proceedings and abuse of process pursuant to 42 Pa.C.S. § 8351. [4] Appellant Jackson seeks consequential, exemplary, and…”

Gentzler v. Atlee, 660 A.2d 1378 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1995). “After the Doe case was terminated in favor of Gentzler, Gentzler filed this action for wrongful use of civil proceedings against Atlee pursuant to 42 Pa.C.S. § 8351 et seq. (the “Act”). The Act provides the elements of the cause of action: (a) Elements of action.”

Keystone Freight Corp. v. Stricker, 31 A.3d 967 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2011). “Sellers, Esquire (“Sellers”) and Kardos, Rickies, Bidling-maier & Bidlingmaier f/k/a Kardos, Rick-ies, Sellers & Hand (“Kardos”) (hereinafter referenced together as “Appellees”) and dismissed Keystone Freight’s Drago-netti action for wrongful use of civil proceedings pursuant to…”

Di Loreto v. Costigan, 600 F. Supp. 2d 671 (E.D. Pa. 2009). “Specifically, although Plaintiff charges Defendant Costigan with both abuse of process under the Dragonetti Act and intentional infliction of emotional distress, neither of these allegations states a cognizable legal claim.”

Ludmer v. Nernberg, 640 A.2d 939 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1994).

— 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 8351(a)(2) — 20 cases

McNeil v. Jordan, 894 A.2d 1260 (Pa. 2006). “A person who takes part in the procurement, initiation or continuation of civil proceedings against another is subject to liability to the other for wrongful use of civil proceedings [where]: (1) He acts in a grossly negligent manner or without probable cause and primarily for…”

P.J.A. v. H.C.N., 156 A.3d 284 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2017). “” 42 Pa.C.S. § 8351(a). In normal litigation, “New Matter” does none of those things.”

Konidaris v. Portnoff Law Assocs.., Ltd., 884 A.2d 348 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2005).

Majorsky v. Douglas, 58 A.3d 1250 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2012). “42 Pa.C.S. § 8351. Id. at 311. From the facts of record, there was never a final determination against Mr.”

— 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 8351(a)(l) — 5 cases

Korn v. Epstein, 727 A.2d 1130 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1999).

Wallach v. Stradley, Ronon, Stevens & Young, 1996 Phila. Cty. Rptr. LEXIS 21 (1996).

Kontsevich, B. v. Gutnik, V. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2016).

Kalikow v. Franklin Chalfont Assocs., 26 Pa. D. & C.4th 305 (1996).

Consulting Engineers Inc. v. Ins. Co. of North Am., 37 Pa. D. & C.4th 339 (1997).

— 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 8351(b) — 4 cases

Sheridan v. Fox, 531 F. Supp. 151 (E.D. Pa. 1982).

Breslin v. Vornado, Inc., 559 F. Supp. 187 (E.D. Pa. 1983).

McGee v. Feege, 510 A.2d 822 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1986).

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