The Vermont Statutes Online
The Statutes below include the actions of the 2024 session of the General Assembly.
NOTE: The Vermont Statutes Online is an unofficial copy of the Vermont Statutes Annotated that is provided as a convenience.
Title 15 : Domestic Relations
Chapter 021 : Abuse Prevention
Subchapter 005 : ABUSIVE LITIGATION
(Cite as: 15 V.S.A. § 1183)-
§ 1183. Hearing; procedure
At the hearing, evidence of any of the following shall create a rebuttable presumption that litigation is being initiated, advanced, or continued primarily for the purpose of harassing, intimidating, or maintaining contact with the other party:
(1) The same or substantially similar issues between the same or substantially similar parties have been litigated within the past five years in the same court or any other court of competent jurisdiction.
(2) The same or substantially similar issues between the same or substantially similar parties have been raised, pled, or alleged in the past five years and were decided on the merits or dismissed.
(3) Within the last 10 years, the party allegedly engaging in abusive litigation has been sanctioned by any court for filing one or more cases, petitions, motions, or other filings that were found to have been frivolous, vexatious, intransigent, or brought in bad faith involving the same opposing party.
(4) Any court has determined that the party allegedly engaging in abusive litigation has previously engaged in abusive litigation or similar conduct and has been subject to a court order imposing prefiling restrictions. (Added 2023, No. 48, § 1, eff. September 1, 2023.)
