Barratry


Definition of Barratry

Barratry refers to an attorney frequently creating legal disputes that are groundless so that they can profit from any resulting litigation or trial.

Barratry is a crime, and it is often punished with fines and even disbarment of the attorney. Barratry is illegal in every state in the U.S.



Barratry Explained

The court system has a responsibility to hear legitimate claims and to set up legitimate trials. Taking care of all of the legitimate cases is already a tremendous burden. So, when a lawyer commits barratry, it can be a major problem for the courts because it can slow things down. For this reason, and the fact that barratry is a form of fraud, it is highly looked down upon in the legal community.

Being convicted of barratry is typically a major negative mark on an attorney's reputation.





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