Local Rule 13 Frivolous Actions; Vexatious Litigants; Sanctions
(A) If a Judge of the Hamilton County Municipal Court , sua sponte or on motion by a party, determines that an original action, motion, or other filing is prosecuted for delay, harassment, or any other improper purpose, it may impose on the person who signed the original action, motion or other filing, a represented party, or both, appropriate sanctions. The sanctions may include an award to the opposing party of reasonable expenses, reasonable attorney fees, costs, or double costs, or any other sanction the Court considers just. An original action, motion, or other filing shall be considered frivolous if it is not reasonably well grounded in fact, or warranted by existing law, or by good faith argument for the extension, modification or reversal of existing law.
(B) If a party habitually, persistently, and without reasonable cause engages in frivolous conduct under division (A) of this rule, a Judge of the Hamilton County Municipal Court may, sua sponte or on motion by a party, find the party to be a vexatious litigator. If the Court determines that a party is a vexatious litigator under this rule, the Court may impose filing restrictions on the party. The restrictions may include prohibiting the party from continuing or instituting legal proceedings in the Hamilton County Municipal Court without first obtaining leave, prohibiting the filing of actions in the Hamilton County Municipal Court without the filing fee or security for costs required for such filings, or any other restriction the Court considers just.
(Adopted March, 2016)