Suing an Abuser for Money

If the judge rules in your favor, deciding that the abuser did bring an abusive civil action lawsuit, the judge will dismiss the lawsuits and claims that the abuser filed. The judge should also order the abuser to:

1. pay all the current court costs of the civil action;
2. pay your attorney’s fees and all reasonable costs of having to defend against the abusive civil action; and
3. follow “prefiling restrictions,” which will limit the abuser’s ability to file any civil actions against anyone for between four to six years.

If the judge rules against you, determining that the abuser did not bring an abusive civil action lawsuit, the judge may:

1. find certain facts in the abuser’s favor,
2. grant partial judgment in the abuser’s favor,
3. decide that the abuser wins the case that s/he filed;
4. order you to pay the current court costs of the time it took to decide whether there was an abusive civil action; and
5. order you to pay reasonable attorney’s fees and costs that the abuser spent in his/her defense against your claim that the case was an abusive civil action.¹

¹ TN ST § 29-41-106