Dentist defeated

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — An appeals court in Arkansas upheld a lower court’s determination that a dentist may not bring his malicious prosecution and civil conspiracy claims against his patients, who say he sexually abused them while they were anesthetized, because they are barred by collateral estoppel. He could not establish the elements of malicious conduct and lack of probable cause necessary to prove his federal malicious prosecution claim, which underpins the civil conspiracy claim.