vexatious litigation

vexatious litigation
n.
A lawsuit brought without probable cause, out of malice toward the opposing party.

The Essential Law Dictionary. — Sphinx Publishing, An imprint of Sourcebooks, Inc. . 2008.


vexatious litigation
A lawsuit that is filed when there is no legal basis, and with the purpose to bother, annoy, embarrass, and cause legal expenses to the defendant. Vexatious litigation also includes continuing a lawsuit after discovery of the facts shows it has absolutely no merit. Vexatious litigation may lead to a legal claim of malicious prosecution against the vexatious litigant. Most states allow a judge to penalize plaintiffs and attorneys for filing or continuing a frivolous legal action. (See also: frivolous)
Category: Representing Yourself in Court
Category: Small Claims Court
Category: Small Claims Court & Lawsuits
Category: Working With a Lawyer

Nolo’s Plain-English Law Dictionary. . 2009.


vexatious litigation
n. A civil suit that can be shown to have been brought maliciously and in the absence of reasonable cause.

Webster's New World Law Dictionary. . 2000.


vexatious litigation
A legal action or proceeding initiated maliciously and without probable cause by an individual who is not acting in good faith for the purpose of annoying or embarrassing an opponent.

Dictionary from West's Encyclopedia of American Law. 2005.


vexatious litigation
A legal action or proceeding initiated maliciously and without probable cause by an individual who is not acting in good faith for the purpose of annoying or embarrassing an opponent.

Short Dictionary of (mostly American) Legal Terms and Abbreviations.

vexatious litigation
n.
   filing a lawsuit with the knowledge that it has no legal basis, with its purpose to bother, annoy, embarrass and cause legal expenses to the defendant. Vexatious litigation includes continuing a lawsuit after discovery of the facts shows it has absolutely no merit. Upon judgment for the defendant, he/she has the right to file a suit for "malicious prosecution" against the original vexatious plaintiff. Moreover, most states allow a judge to penalize with sanctions a plaintiff and his/her attorney for filing or continuing a "frivolous" legal action (money award to the defendant for the trouble and/or attorney fees).

Law dictionary. . 2013.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Vexatious litigation — is legal action which is brought, regardless of its merits, solely to harass or subdue an adversary. It may take the form of a primary frivolous lawsuit or may be the repetitive, burdensome, and unwarranted filing of meritless motions in a matter …   Wikipedia

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  • vexatious — vex·a·tious /vek sā shəs/ adj: lacking a sufficient ground and serving only to annoy or harass when viewed objectively disciplined the attorney for engaging in vexatious litigation Merriam Webster’s Dictionary of Law. Merriam Webster. 1996 …   Law dictionary

  • vexatious appeal — A frivolous or unjustified appeal taken for the purpose of hindering or delaying justice. 5 Am J2d A & E § 1024. vexatious litigation. Same as vexatious suit …   Ballentine's law dictionary

  • litigation — noun a legal proceeding in a court; a judicial contest to determine and enforce legal rights (Freq. 1) • Syn: ↑judicial proceeding • Derivationally related forms: ↑litigious, ↑litigate • Topics: ↑law, ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

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  • vexatious suit — Litigation for the purpose of harassing, annoying, and vexing an opponent, rather than for the adjudication of rights, being invoked, not for the attainment of justice, but to further or satisfy a malicious motive. 28 Am J Rev ed Inj § 210 …   Ballentine's law dictionary

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