---
title: O.C.G.A. § 51-7-44. Inference of malice from lack of probable cause; rebuttal of inference.
collection: code
id: 51-7-44
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 51-7-44 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/51-7-44
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/51-7-44.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/51-7-44/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=700
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.
up: https://georgiacommons.org/code/51-7.md
previous: https://georgiacommons.org/code/51-7-43.md
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index: https://georgiacommons.org/code/index.md
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 / MALICIOUS PROSECUTION
---

# O.C.G.A. § 51-7-44. Inference of malice from lack of probable cause; rebuttal of inference.

A total lack of probable cause is a circumstance from which malice may be inferred; however, the inference may be rebutted by proof.

## History

Orig. Code 1863, § 2929; Code 1868, § 2936; Code 1873, § 2987; Code 1882, § 2987; Civil Code 1895, § 3848; Civil Code 1910, § 4444; Code 1933, § 105-804.