There is a hidden cycle of abuse. It plays out in courtrooms across Washington State and, like many forms of abuse, is incredibly detrimental to survivors' emotional and economic health. Yet it remains largely unrecognized by the court. We're talking about abusive litigation. Abusive litigation is a pattern in which an abuser uses the legal system to continue exerting control over a survivor. Common tactics include repeatedly forcing the survivor into court for child custody

If and when a domestic violence survivor chooses to leave, her abuser still has a need for power and control. So it is often the case that an abuser will use the legal system to continue exerting power and control over the survivor, repeatedly forcing her into court for child custody or divorce proceedings, or even for defamation if she reports the abuse. This pattern, referred to as abusive litigation, is a pervasive problem that has immense emotional and financial impacts o