The Unreasonable, Querulant and The Unreasonable, Querulant and Vexatious as Vexatious as

Self Represented LitigantsSelf Represented Litigants

DR GRANT LESTERDR GRANT LESTERConsultant Forensic PsychiatristConsultant Forensic Psychiatrist

Victorian Institute of Forensic Mental HealthVictorian Institute of Forensic Mental HealthGrant.Lester@forensicare.vic.gov.auGrant.Lester@forensicare.vic.gov.au

managingmanaging--unreasonableunreasonable--complainants.comcomplainants.com

LITIGANTSLITIGANTSnn THE SPECTRUM OF COMPLAINTTHE SPECTRUM OF COMPLAINT

nn NORMALNORMAL

nn UNREASONABLE COMPLAINANTUNREASONABLE COMPLAINANT

nn QUERULANT (MORBID COMPLAINANT)QUERULANT (MORBID COMPLAINANT)

nn THE UNREASONABLE AND VEXATIOUS THE UNREASONABLE AND VEXATIOUS

LITIGANTS IN COURTLITIGANTS IN COURT

nn MANAGEMENTMANAGEMENT

nn Querulant (morbid complainant)Querulant (morbid complainant)––Relentlessly driven by a Relentlessly driven by a ‘‘pursuit of justicepursuit of justice’’, , their complaints cascade in type and target their complaints cascade in type and target over years and secondarily devastate their over years and secondarily devastate their own lives.own lives.

nn Vexatious LitigantVexatious Litigant –– institute legal institute legal proceedings, habitually, persistently and proceedings, habitually, persistently and without reasonable grounds.without reasonable grounds.

nn Unreasonable Complaint BehavioursUnreasonable Complaint Behaviours--vexatious complaint, demanding, persistent, vexatious complaint, demanding, persistent, uncooperative or aggressive (anger, uncooperative or aggressive (anger, intimidation, threats and violence) intimidation, threats and violence) behaviour.behaviour.

The Normal ComplainantThe Normal Complainant§§ Aggrieved and seeking legitimate redressAggrieved and seeking legitimate redress

§§ Proportionality and perspective maintained Proportionality and perspective maintained i.e. values other life domains.i.e. values other life domains.

§§ Focus and specificity maintained.Focus and specificity maintained.

§§ Able to negotiate and accept reasonable Able to negotiate and accept reasonable settlement.settlement.

The Unreasonable ComplainantThe Unreasonable Complainant§§ Aggrieved and seeking redress.Aggrieved and seeking redress.

§§ Hear; victimisation either personalised, or generalised, Hear; victimisation either personalised, or generalised, then pursuing then pursuing ‘‘for the public goodfor the public good’’ or the or the ‘‘principleprinciple’’..

§§ OverOver--optimistic and entitled expectations of compensation optimistic and entitled expectations of compensation or major changes to institutional structures.or major changes to institutional structures.

§§ Difficult to negotiate with and rejecting of all but their Difficult to negotiate with and rejecting of all but their estimation of a just settlement.estimation of a just settlement.

§§ Though persistent, demanding and occasionally Though persistent, demanding and occasionally threatening majority will ultimately settle albeit still threatening majority will ultimately settle albeit still complaining of injustice (maintains proportionality).complaining of injustice (maintains proportionality).

The Personality DisordersThe Personality Disorders

nn OBSESSIONAL PERSONALITY.OBSESSIONAL PERSONALITY.

nn NARCISISTIC PERSONALITY.NARCISISTIC PERSONALITY.

nn PARANOID AND CHRONIC GRUMBLERS.PARANOID AND CHRONIC GRUMBLERS.

nn AVARICIOUS AND MENDACIOUS.AVARICIOUS AND MENDACIOUS.

THE QUERULANT (MORBID COMPLAINANT)THE QUERULANT (MORBID COMPLAINANT)

§§ Querulants develop, losing focus and proportionality.Querulants develop, losing focus and proportionality.§§ Peak ages 40Peak ages 40’’s to 60s to 60’’s, M:F 4:1, no crime, drugs or s, M:F 4:1, no crime, drugs or

psychiatric illness.psychiatric illness.§§ Hear Hear victimization, persecution and finally loss.victimization, persecution and finally loss.§§ Communications; multiCommunications; multi--vectored, voluminous, over vectored, voluminous, over

emphasised, pseudolegalistic and often contain emphasised, pseudolegalistic and often contain threats. threats. §§ Relentless and prolonged Relentless and prolonged ‘‘Pursuit of JusticePursuit of Justice’’..§§ Inflexibly focussed on grievance but if offered Inflexibly focussed on grievance but if offered ‘‘totaltotal’’

reparation will extend complaints.reparation will extend complaints.§§ Overtly seeking reparation and retribution, covertly Overtly seeking reparation and retribution, covertly

seeking vindication.seeking vindication.

STUDIES ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF STUDIES ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE QUERULANT THE QUERULANT

Personality mix; Personality mix; Obsessional, Narcissistic and Obsessional, Narcissistic and Paranoid. (the CouldParanoid. (the Could--aa--been a Champion)been a Champion)

Ageing;Ageing; CanCan’’t accept mortality, loss of power and t accept mortality, loss of power and non accomplishment.non accomplishment.

““To start to hate for ever, the chances for love must To start to hate for ever, the chances for love must appear to be disappearingappear to be disappearing””..

Life Events; Life Events; Marital break up/custody issues, Marital break up/custody issues, Educational or career setback e.g. failure, negative Educational or career setback e.g. failure, negative evaluation, dismissal or lack of promotion, evaluation, dismissal or lack of promotion, Physical or psychological injury or illness.Physical or psychological injury or illness.

THE QUERULANT IN COURTTHE QUERULANT IN COURT

The Querulant and the LawThe Querulant and the Lawnn Lester GLester G, , Wilson B, Griffin L, Mullen P. Unusually persistent Wilson B, Griffin L, Mullen P. Unusually persistent

complainantscomplainants. . The British Journal of PsychiatryThe British Journal of Psychiatry, 2004, 184: 352, 2004, 184: 352--356356nn Lester G.Lester G. The Vexatious LitigantThe Vexatious Litigant. . Judicial OfficerJudicial Officer’’s Bulletins Bulletin 2005 2005

April Vol 17, Nos 3, 17April Vol 17, Nos 3, 17--1919nn Lester G, Smith S.Lester G, Smith S. Inventor, Rascal, Crank or Querulent? Inventor, Rascal, Crank or Querulent?

AustraliaAustralia’’s Vexatious Litigant Sanction 75 years on.s Vexatious Litigant Sanction 75 years on. Psychiatry Psychiatry Psychology LawPsychology Law 2006 Vol 13 Nos 1, 12006 Vol 13 Nos 1, 1--2727

nn Mullen P, Lester G. Vexatious Litigants and Unusually PersistentMullen P, Lester G. Vexatious Litigants and Unusually PersistentComplainants and PetitionersComplainants and Petitioners: : From Querulous Paranoia to From Querulous Paranoia to Querulous BehaviourQuerulous Behaviour. . Behavioural Sciences and the LawBehavioural Sciences and the Law, 2006, Vol , 2006, Vol 24, 33324, 333--249249

nn Levy. B. Levy. B. From paranoia querulans to vexatious litigants: a short From paranoia querulans to vexatious litigants: a short study on madness between psychiatry and the law. Part 1. Historystudy on madness between psychiatry and the law. Part 1. History of of Psychiatry.Vol. 25(3) 299Psychiatry.Vol. 25(3) 299––316, 2014316, 2014

nn Meads v. Meads, 2012 ABQB 571 (CanLII)Meads v. Meads, 2012 ABQB 571 (CanLII) Organized Pseudolegal Organized Pseudolegal Commercial Argument [Commercial Argument [““OPCAOPCA””] Litigants] Litigants

J.D.Rooke, Associate Chief Justice, Court of Queens Bench, AlberJ.D.Rooke, Associate Chief Justice, Court of Queens Bench, Alberta, Canada ta, Canada (736 paragraph Judgement on a matrimonial case) (736 paragraph Judgement on a matrimonial case)

Vexatious litigants in England and Wales 1990Vexatious litigants in England and Wales 1990--20062006Steve Hedley, Faculty of Law, University College CorkSteve Hedley, Faculty of Law, University College Cork

nn Male to female; 4:1Male to female; 4:1 . . Cluster into the age range 50Cluster into the age range 50--70.70.nn Actions are Actions are ““domesticdomestic””, the litigant was initially defendant. , the litigant was initially defendant.

I; Rubber Ball, II; Querulant, III; Litigation as lifestyle.I; Rubber Ball, II; Querulant, III; Litigation as lifestyle.

Ty p e I5 %

Ty p e II4 9 %

Ty p e III4 6 %

WORLDS WITHIN WORLDSWORLDS WITHIN WORLDS

Unreasonable Complainants

Personality Disorders

Querulants

Vexatious Litigants

First: you will struggleFirst: you will struggleTRIBUNAL MEMBERSTRIBUNAL MEMBERSDo No Harm. Success can be Do No Harm. Success can be ‘‘containment and safetycontainment and safety’’ not just not just ‘‘completion and satisfactioncompletion and satisfaction’’..Recognise the 5 VRecognise the 5 V’’s (victimised, s (victimised, voluminous and vague voluminous and vague communications, variable communications, variable demands, seeks vindication). demands, seeks vindication). Control through limits: Control through limits:

nn Maintain formality, donMaintain formality, don’’t t personalise encounter.personalise encounter.

nn Limit issues to be argued.Limit issues to be argued.nn Time limits are essential.Time limits are essential.nn Keep firm boundaries and Keep firm boundaries and

normal practice.normal practice.nn Maintain focus for yourself Maintain focus for yourself

and them.and them.

Silence is Golden.Silence is Golden.Thick Skin is Platinum.Thick Skin is Platinum.Share the load.Share the load.

You will struggle, they will You will struggle, they will appeal, be not dismayed.appeal, be not dismayed.REGISTRY OFFICERSREGISTRY OFFICERSRecognise 5 vRecognise 5 v’’s.s.DonDon’’t personalise the encounter.t personalise the encounter.DonDon’’t advise.t advise.DonDon’’t divulge.t divulge.Firm limits and normal practiceFirm limits and normal practiceRespond to all aggression, Respond to all aggression, threats or intimidation.threats or intimidation.

You will struggle, they will You will struggle, they will complain, be not dismayed.complain, be not dismayed.

DiscussionDiscussion