Every man is liable to be sued wrongfully or without cause.

Explanation

(English-origin maxim.) The possibility of being sued without cause is a burden every man bears — the law provides remedies for frivolous suits but cannot prevent them from being filed.

Where this applies

• A doctor sued for malpractice by a patient she treated competently must still hire a lawyer and defend herself, even though the claim has no merit.
• A small-business owner receives a frivolous lawsuit from a competitor and must spend time and money responding, because the law cannot prevent baseless suits from being filed.
• A homeowner is named in a nuisance lawsuit by a neighbor who simply does not like her landscaping — the homeowner must answer the complaint even though it is groundless.