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Legal Information: Vermont

Litigation Abuse

What can a judge include in an order restricting abusive litigation?

A judge who believes that litigation is abusive will dismiss, deny, strike, or otherwise resolve any motions or other legal actions “with prejudice,” which means that they cannot be re-filed.1 In an order restricting abusive litigation, the judge may include any conditions that are necessary and appropriate, including:

  • awarding you reasonable attorney’s fees and the costs of responding to the abusive litigation; and
  • putting pre-filing restrictions on the abuser to prevent him/her from filing any future cases against you or your children without court permission.2 

1 VT ST 15 § 1184(a)
2 VT ST 15 § 1184(b)

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