Overhauling rules and laws to prevent harassing litigation in noncriminal cases is the goal of a new workgroup created by the Supreme Court.

On December 9 the court, in Administrative Order SC21-62, created the Workgroup on Sanctions for Vexatious and Sham Litigation. It will be chaired by 17th Circuit Judge Carol-Lisa Philips and is charged with reporting to the court by June 1, 2022.

“[V]exatious and sham litigation in noncriminal trial court cases may be described as legal proceedings that are unwarranted, frivolous, inherently false, without good cause, or filed solely to harass the opposing party; are burdensome and costly for the defendant; and abuse the judicial process and waste limited court resources,” Chief Justice Charles Canady said in the order.