Barratry

Is the act of repeated legal actions for the purpose of harassment.

Is a form of harassment to silence critics.

It is known as a Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation (SLAPP).

Several jurisdictions in the US have declared barratry (in the sense of a frivolous or harassing litigant) to be a crime as part of their tort reform efforts.

For example, in California, Pennsylvania, Virgina and Washington barratry is a misdemeanor and in Texas a misdemeanor on the first conviction, but a felony on subsequent convictions.