Crackdown on Unnecessary Lawsuits
NSW Attorney-General John Hatzistergos said some litigants had brought more than 100 court cases each, costing opponents millions in legal fees and clogging up the court system.
Such cases were a drain on court resources, and the new legislation, coming into force today, would weed such litigants out of the system, he said.
"From today, anybody who frequently and persistently takes legal action without reasonable grounds or for improper purposes can be declared a vexatious litigant," Mr Hatzistergos said.
"Our new laws aim to stamp out this practice and will give judges the power to banish anyone declared a vexatious litigant from their courtrooms."
The new law would make it easier for the attorney-general, the solicitor-general or the registrar of the court to declare someone a problem litigant to stop such abuse.
Victims of such lawsuits would be able to apply to have someone declared a vexatious litigant, Mr Hatzistergos said.
"We have introduced these measures not only to free up the justice system, but to protect the good citizens of this state," he said.