It may be true that everyone deserves their day in court, but that sound legal maxim assumes that "everyone" has a plausible cause of action and is not merely a malingerer or a malcontent, a publicity hound or a paranoiac. While motivations may be difficult, if not impossible, to discern, nevertheless a claim should have enough substance to warrant adjudication.
Amy Modica has had her day in court, and then some. She's filed 19 lawsuits in Jefferson County courts in the last two years and has yet to enjoy a legal triumph. Nevertheless, her cases have clogged our courts and cost taxpayers needless expense.
Amy sued Beaumont Bone & Joint Institute for making her walk to the bus stop. She sued two DHS employees who tried to help her collect welfare benefits. She sued then-President George W. Bush and the Beaumont Housing Authority for "forcing" her into homelessness. She sued Dr. Howard Wilcox for rudeness during an examination. She sued attorney Frank Calvert for assault with sarcasm.
Amy has filed four additional suits in the last two months. She's suing President Barack Obama, HUD, and the BHA for psychologically abusing her. She's suing Jefferson County Judge Ronald Walker for not allowing her to commit her mother. Recently, she filed two suits against the city of Beaumont, alleging that a Beaumont police officer harassed and hypnotized her and committed serial murder.
Beaumont has responded with a motion to have the suit dismissed and Amy declared a "vexatious litigant."
That seems reasonable enough, but surely a simpler solution would be for judges to exercise judgment and throw out cases like Amy's before the wheels of justice start turning. One judge who cared enough might temper justice with mercy by ordering a thorough medical evaluation of Amy.
Maybe, with proper treatment, she could slay her demons and stop being so vexatious.