When courts get vexed

Everyone is supposed to be entitled to their day in court. But how should we weigh that principle against the reality of litigants who misuse court processes, tying up resources and subjecting other parties to harm? What approaches exist to identify vexatious or abusive litigation at an early stage and nip it in the bud? Donald Netolitzky, K.C., was complex litigant management counsel for the Alberta Court of King’s Bench. He argues that abusive litigation is often linked to mental health problems, and that letting it proceed unimpeded harms other parties, the courts, and the abusive litigants themselves. Notes: Stashin v. Van Norman, 2026 ABKB 297 Verdicts & Voices is a legal current affairs podcast presented by the Canadian Bar Association. With her retinue of expert guests, host Alison Crawford keeps listeners up to date on news, views, and stories about the law and the justice system in Canada. Views expressed are not necessarily those of the CBA. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.