Law Commons^™

Absolute Immunity From Civil Liability: Lessons For Litigation Lawyers, T. Leigh Anenson

Pepperdine Law Review

The common law doctrine of absolute immunity provided to litigation lawyers is said to be "as old as law." This centuries-old doctrine protects litigators from lawsuits instigated by the adversaries of their clients. It is typically invoked, irrespective of any nefarious or malicious motives, so long as the course of action taken bears some reasonable relation to the lawsuit. This Article examines the historical antecedents of the litigation privilege as well as the policies motivating its creation. It also provides a comprehensive description of the doctrine of absolute immunity, explores the circumstances in which it has been applied, and discusses …