Court Declares Homeowner a “Vexatious Litigant” and Prohibits Further Abusive Pro Se Filings

This case involved a long history of abusive filings against a homeowner’s association (“Association”) by a condominium owner (“Owner”), who was representing himself as a “pro se” litigant.

Because Owner had consistently engaged in overly contentious and litigious behavior, the trial court declared Owner to be “vexatious litigant” and directed the clerk of the court to reject any further filings by Owner unless they were signed by an active attorney who was a member of the Florida Bar. As sanctions for failing to comply with multiple court orders, the trial court entered a judgment in favor of Association and Owner thereafter filed an appeal. Association then filed a motion with the appellate court seeking to have Owner declared a vexatious appellate litigant.

The appellate court found that Owner had engaged in filing frivolous, meritless, and successive motions, in which he continued to seek relief from the Court on the same issues and arguments that he had previously unsuccessfully raised. The appellate court found that Owner’s actions: