PROJECT ABSTRACT

            The purpose of this Project Grant request is to engage in research leading to real solutions to the fast-growing phenomenon of pro se litigation and to document the incidence of  Legal Abuse Syndrome (LAS) that may be behind the phenomenon.

            Applicant will accomplish a longitudinal study/survey of 5,000 American Justice System litigants focusing on litigants’ perception of the courts, economic access, impact to litigants’ health, court sensitivity to “invisible” disabilities, secondary trauma caused by stressors while using the court system, and ability to rebound after court experiences. 

            The objective is to document those factors as reported by litigants who may be diagnosed or undiagnosed LAS/PTSD sufferers (as a result of actual court experience) and to create court protocol providing effective and efficient means to deal expeditiously and judiciously with them.  The Project is intended to enhance understanding and skills of court employees at all levels to include the judiciary and to prepare protocols for courts’ use in dealing with pro se litigants who may be LAS/PTSD sufferers.  The goal is to lead to a less-burdened court system, more effective litigants, and less stress/physical illness to all through education.  LAS may be a public health menace of magnitude.

            The Product will assist with ADA Access and Compliance so as to avoid future litigation.  It will also enable the court system to devise easily implementable procedures based on the protocols to increase efficacy with such litigants.  Court efficiency will be improved through a reduction in existing case filings.  In short, the Study will assist pro se litigants in the courts, LAS/PTSD suffering litigants, LAS/PTSD suffering court personnel, and relax some of the burden on the court systems.