Feds fine St. Martinville woman for ‘frivolous’ lawsuits
The 5th Circuit Court of Appeal has levied a wrist-slapping fine of $105 against a St. Martinville resident who had been warned to lay off the litigation following a string of civil suits filed mostly in federal court in Lafayette that so flustered a judge he ordered the clerk of court to accept no further filings from the woman without approval by a federal judge.
Maureen Greene’s case before the federal appeals court in New Orleans contested a Lafayette federal judge’s decision to throw out her latest lawsuit — a civil rights claim against SMILE Community Action Agency. The lawsuit was the latest in a string of suits Greene has filed in federal and state district courts going back to a 1997 sexual harassment claim. “Over the last twelve years, Greene has brought a variety of civil rights claims against numerous employers — though none has survived to trial on the merits. Indeed, Greene has filed at least ten such suits in federal court and four in state court,” the 5th Circuit ruling reads in part. The federal panel also notes, "This is not the first time Greene has appeared before this court. At the conclusion of one of her suits in 2006, we warned Greene that we are authorized to impose penalties for vexatious and frivolous appeals."
A Lafayette federal judge was so incensed by Greene’s litigious vigor that his last order to dismiss her lawsuit bore an emphatic handrwitten addendum: “DENIED! The clerk of this court is ORDERED not to accept further filings from plaintiff without the order of a United States District Judge.”
... written by NORTHSIDIAN SHOTGUN : , January 12, 2010 - 04:23 pm
SAINT MARTINVILLE HAS ALWAYS BEEN AH REFUGE FOR MENTALLY DISTURBED DUSKIES, CLAIMING MCILLEHENY STOLE DERE PEPPA'S ..........
... written by Pen of the Southside , January 12, 2010 - 07:19 pm
This is, possibly, representative of a much larger problem. Though I can't speak for him, I will admit I've heard one Acadiana resident classify St. Martinville as bit of a "refuge" for the mentally disabled. Such outrageous claims include that McIlhenny "stole [their] peppers." Nonsense, I know, but worthy of note.
... written by NORTHSIDIAN SHOTGUN : , January 12, 2010 - 09:46 pm
PEN of the Southside, you run out of ya daily ration of ink en ya well, whars da rest of da note ? Kidding, i know where ya coming from. """Ah, heard da gate post creak ! Leaky Pen, ya be sure ta don ya hip waders, yeah! Its deeper than it seems............. Ya mind in da future, i call ya "BIC ?
... written by LSU Greg , January 12, 2010 - 10:11 pm
Some folks will just file and file lawsuits hoping that, like mud thrown against a wall, one will stick. the judge ought to start levying fines for serious bucks against the damned lawyers who file the claims for knuckleheads like Greene.
... written by NORTHSIDIAN SHOTGUN , January 15, 2010 - 03:48 am
AY BIC PEN, I LIKES THE WAY YA TRANSPOSTS MAH WOIDS, TANKS BRAH, AS YA MAY HAS NOTICEE, SOME OH DA PEEPS SLURRIN MOI, CAUSE I NEED HELP WID MAH POSTTESS, I KNOW YA SAID TA CHANGE MAH NAME TA SOUTHSIDIAN SHOTGUN, BUT I WOULD HAVE TA CHANGE MAH NAME TA SOUTHSIDIAN B B GUN , NON ?
... written by Reform Louisiana , January 20, 2010 - 08:51 pm
Louisiana Lawsuit Abuse Watch applauds the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals for its recent decision to fine a person for repeatedly abusing our civil justice system.
While all judges have the power to issue fines against those who abuse our courts and to throw out frivolous cases, this power is rarely used.
Its unfortunate that we don't see more courageous decisions such as this. Meritless and unnecessary lawsuits clog up our courts and delay justice for true victims.
The abuse is especially egregious in this case because the plaintiff, Mrs. Maureen Greene, is also wasting taxpayers money by forcing public officials and employees to spend time and resources to repeatedly defend against baseless claims. She has reportedly filed more than a dozen lawsuits in recent history in state and federal courts.
We applaud those judges who recognized Mrs. Greene's pattern of abuse and took action to stop it. As the court noted in its recent decision, no one should have an "unrestrained license to pursue totally frivolous" suits and appeals.
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