barratry
n. creating legal business by stirring up disputes and quarrels, generally for the benefit of the
lawyer who sees fees in the matter. Barratry is illegal in all states and subject to criminal
punishment and/or discipline by the state bar, but there must be a showing that the resulting
lawsuit was totally groundless. There is a lot of border-line barratry in which attorneys, in the
name of being tough or protecting the client, fail to seek avenues for settlement of disputes or
will not tell the client he/she has no legitimate claim.
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