Schoenbeck and Erickson successfully obtained a unique form of relief for several of their clients. It is called a Screening Order, and it limits the ability of a person or entity to file lawsuits in the future. These types of orders are only entered when an individual has abused the legal system.
The relevant language from Judge Knoff’s judgment reads:
“ORDERED, ADJUDGED, AND DECREED that because the ongoing litigation brought by Bret Healy against Healy Ranch, Inc. and the real property it owns has been vexatious, duplicative, and has no good faith basis, that the Court hereby imposes an injunction upon Bret Healy that if he is proceeding pro se or if he is represented by Attorney Tucker Volesky, he must first bring his Complaint before the Court to determine if there is a Bonafide good faith basis for believing the suit is appropriate and has merit. The court will determine whether or not Bret Healy will be permitted to file the lawsuit, and, on a case-by-case basis, the Court will determine whether or not and in what amount a bond should be required to be posted in an amount to cover attorney fees and costs that are incurred in defending against Bret Healy’s action.”
The court based this judgment on detailed findings of fact and conclusion of law that explain the reason why the Screening Order was necessary.