🚨 CALL TO ACTION FOR SURVIVORS AND ADVOCATES 🚨
If you are a survivor of domestic violence (DV), intimate partner violence (IPV), or someone who supports survivors—your voice matters right now.
Delaware has made progress, but there is still no standalone law that protects survivors from litigation abuse—the use of the legal system to continue harm, control, and intimidation.
📩 If you are in another state:
Use this letter as a template. Send it to your state legislators and ask what protections exist—and what is being done to address litigation abuse where you live.
Other states, including Maryland, are already working toward addressing this. Delaware must do the same.
You can help change this.
📩 Copy and paste the letter below.
📩 Send it to your Delaware legislators.
📩 Ask them to take action.
If you’re not sure who your legislators are, it only takes a minute:
Step 1: Google
Type: “Who are my state legislators + [your state]”
Step 2: Use your state legislature website
Every state has a “Find My Legislator” tool where you enter your address
Step 3: Use a national tool
Visit Common Cause → https://www.commoncause.org/find-your-representative/
orUSA.gov → https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials
📩 Most legislators list their email directly on their page
Your voice can help ensure no survivor is retraumatized through the very system meant to protect them.
For those wishing to support this effort, please contact your Delaware legislators:
Delaware General Assembly: https://legis.delaware.gov
Find Your Legislator: https://legis.delaware.gov/FindMyLegislator
Legislative Hall Phone: (302) 744-4114
When reaching out, consider asking:
— What protections exist for survivors facing litigation abuse?
— What steps are being taken to address this issue in Delaware?
— Will you support legislation specifically addressing litigation abuse?
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[City, State, Zip]
[Email Address]
[Date]
Dear Members of the Delaware General Assembly,
I am writing to respectfully urge the introduction and passage of legislation that protects survivors of domestic violence (DV) and intimate partner violence (IPV) from litigation abuse.
Litigation abuse is a documented pattern in which abusers misuse the legal system—through repeated filings, manipulative pleadings, and procedural tactics—to maintain control, intimidate, and exhaust survivors emotionally and financially. While Delaware has taken meaningful steps to strengthen victim protections, including Senate Bill 17, a critical gap remains in addressing this form of ongoing harm.
For many survivors, the courtroom becomes an extension of the abuse rather than a place of protection. Without clear statutory safeguards, individuals who have already endured violence may continue to face repeated legal actions that retraumatize them, often without effective recourse.
Other states, including Maryland, California, and New York, are actively advancing legal frameworks that recognize coercive control and litigation abuse as continuations of domestic violence. Delaware has the opportunity to stand alongside these efforts and lead in ensuring that its legal system cannot be used as a tool of continued harm.
A standalone law addressing litigation abuse would:
— Provide courts with clear authority to identify and limit abusive filings
— Protect survivors from repeated and unnecessary litigation
— Preserve judicial resources while prioritizing legitimate claims
— Strengthen Delaware’s commitment to victim-centered justice
This is not a partisan issue. It is a matter of safety, fairness, and the integrity of our legal system.
Survivors should not have to choose between seeking justice and protecting themselves from further harm within that same system. I respectfully urge you to support legislation that recognizes litigation abuse as a serious and preventable continuation of domestic violence.
Thank you for your time, your leadership, and your continued commitment to protecting victims and strengthening our communities.
Respectfully,
[Your Name]