---
title: O.C.G.A. § 51-7-2. Malice defined.
collection: code
id: 51-7-2
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 51-7-2 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/51-7-2
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/51-7-2.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/51-7-2/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t51-(v39)-2017-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=6b891965_0#page=652
date: 2025
status: active
corpus_version: 2025-supplement-89aa39ab3c68
license: CC0-1.0
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
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version: the only printed version
in_force: true
current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly
heading_path: TORTS / FALSE ARREST, FALSE IMPRISONMENT, MALICIOUS PROSECUTION, AND ABUSIVE LITIGATION / FALSE ARREST
---

# O.C.G.A. § 51-7-2. Malice defined.

Malice consists in personal spite or in a general disregard of the right consideration of mankind, directed by chance against the individual injured.

## History

Orig. Code 1863, § 2936; Code 1868, § 2943; Code 1873, § 2994; Code 1882, § 2994; Civil Code 1895, § 3855; Civil Code 1910, § 4451; Code 1933, § 105-1002.