Frivolous lawsuit
A
lawsuit is termed
frivolous if it is brought in spite of the fact that both the
plaintiff and his
lawyer knew that it had no merit and it did not argue for a reasonable extension or reinterpretation of the
law or no underlying justification in fact based upon the lawyer's
due dilligence investigation of the case before filing (i.e. the well known U.S. Federal Rule 11).
Since it wastes the court's and the other people's time, resources and legal fees, it may result in
sanctions being levied by the court upon the party or the lawyer who brings the action.
Compare barratry, vexatious litigation, abuse of process and malicious prosecution.