Courts commonly rule that the following actions constitute an abuse of the judicial process: frivolous or vexatious litigation filed with malicious intent to harass or oppress rather than to resolve genuine disputes; repeated lawsuits on matters already adjudicated (res judicata) or that could have been raised in prior proceedings (claim preclusion); deliberate failure to disclose relevant evidence (spoliation) or presenting forged documents; using subpoenas or discovery processes not to obtain pertinent information but to intimidate or impose undue burdens on opponents; and pursuing legally meritless appeals solely to delay enforcement of a judgment. These behaviors misuse judicial mechanisms for collateral purposes—such as wasting resources, causing reputational harm, or evading legal duties—rather than seeking legitimate redress, prompting courts to impose sanctions like cost orders, dismissal of claims, or contempt rulings to uphold procedural integrity.
