Legal Definitions - vexatious litigant

A vexatious litigant is an individual who repeatedly initiates legal proceedings or actions that are without any reasonable basis, are intended to harass or annoy others, or constitute an abuse of the court system. Courts may declare someone a vexatious litigant, often imposing restrictions that require them to seek court permission before filing any new lawsuits or legal motions. This measure is designed to protect the integrity of the judicial process and prevent its misuse.

Here are some examples illustrating what it means to be a vexatious litigant:

• Example 1: Repeated Baseless Claims Against a Neighbor
  Imagine a homeowner, Mr. Henderson, who has filed five separate lawsuits against his next-door neighbor, Ms. Davies, over the past two years. The lawsuits include claims that Ms. Davies's garden gnome is "too intimidating," that her dog's barking (which is infrequent and within local noise ordinances) constitutes "emotional distress," and that her children's laughter in their own backyard is a "public nuisance." Each case has been dismissed by a judge for lacking any legal merit or factual basis. Mr. Henderson continues to threaten new legal action despite these dismissals.

  This illustrates a vexatious litigant because Mr. Henderson is repeatedly filing lawsuits that are frivolous and lack any reasonable legal or factual foundation. His actions appear intended to harass Ms. Davies and misuse the court system rather than genuinely seek justice for a legitimate grievance.

• Example 2: Endless Appeals and Motions After a Judgment
  Consider a situation where a former employee, Ms. Chen, lost a wrongful termination lawsuit against her previous employer, TechCorp. After the initial judgment was upheld on appeal, Ms. Chen continued to file numerous, complex motions and appeals, each raising slightly different but ultimately rehashed arguments that had already been rejected by multiple courts. She also attempted to sue the individual judges involved in her case, alleging bias without any evidence. These actions have dragged on for years, costing TechCorp significant legal fees and consuming court resources.

  Ms. Chen's behavior demonstrates that of a vexatious litigant because she is persistently pursuing legal actions that have no reasonable prospect of success, long after a final judgment has been rendered. Her actions appear to be an abuse of the legal process, possibly aimed at harassing her former employer or the judiciary, rather than genuinely seeking a legal remedy.