Two legal concepts
go by the name barratry: one in criminal and civil
law, the other in admiralty law.
- In criminal
law, barratry is the act or practice of bringing repeated
legal actions solely to harass. Usually, the actions brought lack merit.
This action has been declared a crime in some jurisdictions. See also:
champerty, SLAPP, vexatious litigation, abuse of process, malicious
prosecution, forum shopping.
- In admiralty
law, barratry is a fraudulent act committed by a master or
crew of a vessel which damages the vessel or its cargo, including desertion,
illegal scuttling, and theft of the ship or cargo.
A third meaning also
exists: the buying and selling of positions of authority, especially those
within the church. This meaning is synonymous with simony.
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