the lawsuit claimed that defendants ( 1 ) failed to provide the plaintiffs with a fair trial by fabricating evidence and withholding exculpatory evidence ; ( 2 ) conspired to falsely arrest and maliciously prosecute the plaintiffs ; ( 3 ) engaged in deceitful conduct ; ( 4 ) intentionally inflicted emotional distress ; ( 5 ) acted negligently in prosecuting the plaintiffs ; and ( 6 ) initiated and maintained a malicious prosecution .