Bill > S4095

This bill establishes protections from abusive and controlling litigation for victims of domestic violence. The key provisions are: 1. It defines "abusive and controlling litigation" as litigation initiated, advanced, or continued by a person in bad faith and primarily for the purpose of delay, malicious injury, or harassing, intimidating, or maintaining contact with the other party. 2. The court can determine if a person is an "abusive and controlling litigant" if they have committed an act of domestic violence and are using litigation in bad faith and primarily for the purpose of delay, malicious injury, or harassment. 3. The court can dismiss any pending abusive litigation, award fees and costs to the victim, allow the victim to not respond to further litigation unless directed by the court, and prohibit the abusive litigant from initiating, advancing, or continuing litigation against the victim without leave of court. 4. There is a rebuttable presumption that a person is an abusive and controlling litigant in certain circumstances, such as if the litigation involves the same or similar issues as previous litigation. The overall purpose is to protect victims of domestic violence from being further victimized through abusive and controlling litigation tactics.

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https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2022/S4095