King v. Praxair Distribution, Inc.
- James Donato
- 3:20-cv-07817
- U.S. District Court · Northern District of California
- 1
In King v. Praxair Distribution, Judge Donato denied Praxair’s request to declare King a vexatious litigant, without prejudice, citing court-access concerns.
Plaintiff Troy King and defendant Praxair Distribution, Inc.; Praxair’s request to designate King a vexatious litigant was denied without prejudice.
What happened
In King v. Praxair Distribution, Inc., Praxair asked the court to declare plaintiff Troy King a vexatious litigant. The opinion says King has an extensive history of representing himself in litigation in many courts.
The court acknowledged that some of King’s cases and claims may have questionable good-faith bases. But it emphasized that restricting access to the courts is serious and affects a person’s First Amendment right to ask a court for relief.
Judge James Donato denied Praxair’s request without prejudice. The order did not make a vexatious-litigant designation.
The detailed version
- King v. Praxair Distribution, Inc. · No. 3:20-cv-07817
- James Donato
- Oct. 13, 2023
Background
Defendant Praxair Distribution, Inc. asked the court to declare plaintiff Troy King a vexatious litigant. The opinion states that King has an extensive history of representing himself in litigation in many courts. It also says that, in some instances, the good-faith basis of his cases and claims may be questioned.
Court’s Analysis
The court emphasized that restricting a litigant’s access to the courts is a serious matter. It said that such a restriction implicates the First Amendment right to petition the courts for redress of grievances.
Disposition
Judge James Donato denied Praxair’s request without prejudice. The order therefore did not declare King a vexatious litigant, and it did not bar Praxair from making a later request. The opinion does not provide further details about the litigation history or the specific cases and claims underlying Praxair’s request.
Read the full 1-page opinion on CourtListener, the free public archive maintained by the Free Law Project.