Frivolous / Nuisance Suit
<p>What rules and legal mechanism deter frivolous or nuisance suits?  Assume Florida venue.</p>
<p>A neighbor is threatening to sue the developer for soil erosion.  The neighbor has been an owner for 3 years, however,</p>
<ol>
<li>the property is 15 years old and the ground cover (grass) has not been maintained</li>
<li>owner \ association <a href="https://definitions.uslegal.com/r/real-estate-improvements/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">improvements</a> have changed the <a href="https://diy.stackexchange.com/questions/156138/nomenclature-for-water-management-objects">impermeable area</a> and affected the hydrology</li>
</ol>
<p>Are there any strategies that would be the equivalent of the video game Defender &quot;smart bomb&quot; that would summarily dismiss such a claim?</p>

<p>Yes, the doctrine that costs follow the event. That is, you lose, you pay the costs for the winner.</p>

<p>Also, if a plaintiff’s suit has no prospect of success, the defendant can file a motion for <strong>summary judgement</strong> on that basis.</p>

<p>Finally, if a plaintiff persistently lodges vexatious claims a court may declare them a <strong>vexatious litigant</strong>- they then need the court’s permission to initiate legal action.</p>

florida charge-dismissed frivolous-arguments