Rule 11.2. Abusive Litigation
Effective August 1, 2026
(A) Definitions.
(1) Filer. For purposes of this rule, “filer” means a party or other litigant who files, or on whose behalf is filed, a pleading, motion, or other submission to the court.
(2) Abusive litigant. An abusive litigant under this rule is a filer who engages in conduct that may include, but is not limited to, filing frivolous, unreasonable, groundless, or repetitive claims; litigating claims in bad faith; citing fictitious legal authority; or egregiously violating the Rules of Trial Procedure or Rules on Access to Court Records.
(B) Findings.
The court, upon the motion of any party or on its own initiative and after considering a filer’s litigation history, may make a finding that a filer is an abusive litigant.
(C) Remedies.
Upon a finding that a filer is an abusive litigant, a court may impose reasonable conditions and restrictions on the filer’s ability to commence or continue actions, as specified by order, that are tailored to the filer’s particular practices. The court may, without limitation, impose one or more of the following conditions or restrictions:
(1) require the filer to accompany future filings with an affidavit certifying under penalty of perjury that the allegations are true to the best of the filer's knowledge, information, and belief;
(2) direct the filer to attach to future complaints a list of all cases previously filed involving the same, similar, or related cause of action;
(3) direct that future pleadings be stricken if they do not meet the requirements that a pleading must contain a short and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief and that each averment of a pleading must be simple, concise, and direct;
(4) require the filer to state clearly and concisely, at the beginning of a motion, the relief requested;
(5) require the filer to provide specific page citations to documents alleged by the filer to support an argument or position;
(6) require the filer to provide argument and citation to authority, explaining why the new action is not subject to dismissal due to res judicata, collateral estoppel, or law of the case;
(7) limit the filer's ability to request reconsideration or to file repetitive motions;
(8) limit the number of pages or words of pleadings, motions, and other submissions to the court;
(9) limit the length of the title that may be used for a filing;
(10) limit the amount or length of exhibits or attachments that may accompany a filing; or
(11) to the extent permitted by law, deny a filer’s request to waive the filing fee in a civil case if the court determines that the filer is asserting a claim upon which the court cannot grant relief, is seeking relief from a defendant who is immune, or is attempting to relitigate a claim barred by res judicata, collateral estoppel, or law of the case.
(D) Sanctions for Bad Faith or Failed Remedies.
After an opportunity for hearing, upon a party’s request or on its own initiative, a court may impose sanctions after a finding of bad faith or a finding that the previous remedies have failed. The court may sanction any filer or attorney whose conduct resulted in the court’s finding. Sanctions may include default, dismissal with prejudice, payment of reasonable expenses, and payment of reasonable attorney’s fees.
(E) Other Remedies.
This rule does not limit a court’s authority to respond to individual pleadings under Trial Rule 12(F), or to respond to individual filings under Rule 11(C), Rule 11.1(D), or any other rule.