51-7-80. Definitions.

As used in this article, the term:

‘‘Civil proceeding’’ includes any action, suit, proceeding, counterclaim, cross-claim, third-party claim, or other claim at law or in equity.#

‘‘Claim’’ includes any allegation or contention of fact or law asserted in support of or in opposition to any civil proceeding, defense, motion, or appeal.#

‘‘Defense’’ includes any denial of allegations made by another party in any pleading, motion, or other paper submitted to the court for the purpose of seeking affirmative or negative relief, and any affirmative defense or matter asserted in confession or avoidance.#

‘‘Good faith,’’ when used with reference to any civil proceeding, claim, defense, motion, appeal, or other position, means that to the best of a person’s or his or her attorney’s knowledge, information, and belief, formed honestly after reasonable inquiry, that such civil proceeding, claim, defense, motion, appeal, or other position is well grounded in fact and is either warranted by existing law or by reasonable grounds to believe that an argument for the extension, modification, or reversal of existing law may be successful.#

‘‘Malice’’ means acting with ill will or for a wrongful purpose and may be inferred in an action if the party initiated, continued, or procured civil proceedings or process in a harassing manner or used process for a purpose other than that of securing the proper adjudication of the claim upon which the proceedings are based.#

‘‘Person’’ means an individual, corporation, company, association, firm, partnership, society, joint-stock company, or any other entity, including any governmental entity or unincorporated association of persons with capacity to sue or be sued.#

‘‘Without substantial justification,’’ when used with reference to any civil proceeding, claim, defense, motion, appeal, or other position, means that such civil proceeding, claim, defense, motion, appeal, or other position is:#

1. (A)

   Frivolous;#

2. (B)

   Groundless in fact or in law; or#

3. (C)

   Vexatious.#

‘‘Wrongful purpose’’ when used with reference to any civil proceeding, claim, defense, motion, appeal, or other position results in or has the effect of:#

1. (A)

   Attempting to unjustifiably harass or intimidate another party or witness to the proceeding; or#

2. (B)

   Attempting to unjustifiably accomplish some ulterior or collateral purpose other than resolving the subject controversy on its merits.#