Vexatious litigation is legal action which is brought, regardless of its merits, solely to harass or subdue an adversary. It may take the form of a primary frivolous lawsuit or may be the repetitive, burdensome, and unwarranted filing of meritless motions in a matter which is otherwise a meritorious cause of action.
noun: duress
d(y)o͝oˈres/
du·ress
-
threats, violence, constraints, or other action brought to bear on someone to do something against their will or better judgment.“confessions extracted under duress“
synonyms: coercion, compulsion, force, pressure, intimidation, constraint; More -
Lawconstraint illegally exercised to force someone to perform an act.
-
archaicforcible restraint or imprisonment.
-
Origin
Middle English (in the sense ‘harshness, severity, cruel treatment’): via Old French from Latin duritia, from durus ‘hard.’