Vengeance and retribution require a long time; it is the rule.

Charles Dickens

Previously, I mentioned how legal battles are the worst and how emotionally draining they can be. Now, I want to look at how the same legal battles can be used, not because they are the only option left to resolve a dispute, but because someone is using them out of spite.

What does it take to involve yourself in lawsuit? Firstly, money. It is well known that lawsuits are not cheap. Expenses include paying a lawyer, court expenses and other unexpected costs. Secondly, emotional investment. People have to prepare themselves emotionally for lawsuits. They have to become calm and collected in situations that probably makes them feel anything but that. Thirdly, time. One of the most important investments in lawsuit is time. Legal battles can end in few weeks or can take up to several years to end.

And time aspect is useful for someone who doesn’t care about emotions and money, but just wants to make someones life difficult. When it comes to this, it doesn’t matter who is right or wrong. Lawsuits are being used as revange tactic a lot in disputes that are with emotional roots. Which means that these types of legal battles can become big investment of time, emotions and money.

Disclaimer: I do know that this might not be true in some countries or legal systems, but where I come from lawsuits can be dragged out pretty easily and there is not much laws against it.

What is lawyers role in all of this? I believe, it comes down to personal work ethic and morales. However, I believe lawyers should not indulge into these situations. They should be able to foresee when lawsuit might be used for the wrong reasons and try to convince their client to use more appropriate option. But in the end everything that matters are trust between client and a lawyer.

As long as we, lawyers, will try to do our best according to our beliefs, we will do what’s best for our clients and case as whole.

/M.P./