Distant brothers try to sue the caregiver sister. How do I get this to end?

YEAH. I won! Verdict came in today. Thanks for the prayers!

My heart goes out to you as well. I just came upon this too.

It hit home for me because I have 3 older brothers, one who died during the course of caring for my mom (& he was the only caring sensible one), and 2 who gave me nothing but grief...along with their wives, their grown sons, and even an ex-wife!!! I felt so alone, heartbroken, angry, frustrated, disillusioned, .... you name it,...I felt it.
My mom is now in AL but I'm still a wreck after all the stress and the family division is still active. 😞
Take care of yourself. They sure won't! !!

Turn the tables on the brothers and countersue, for at least harassment, possibly slander and/or libel, depending on whether they made public verbal or written accusations or both. The written accusations in the complaints would at least be libelous.

Slander addresses verbal accusations; libel is written (generally - the definitions are more precise),

Ask the attorney(s) who defended you, if the suits have not yet been dismissed, about the possibility of countersuing. You will have to pay attorney fees, but at least you'll be taking the offensive and putting the brothers on the defensive. Fight back!

As CM raises that issue, ask also about the possibility of getting a TRO to prevent further defamation activities. You may not be able to stop the suit, but you'll be making a stand by countersuing, and if you get a restraining order, you'll at least be able to stop some of the defamatory actions as well as show them you're not going to acquiesce to their harassment.

Depending on how the order is written and specific prohibitions, a TRO could act as a gag order, and could even extend to banks, doctors and others with whom you had contact while caring for your mother.

Also ask the attorneys about including counts for frivolous actions, since a judge said the suit was frivolous. Years ago when I worked in litigation, local court rules were amended to address frivolous actions.

If you do countersue, be sure that your "prayer" (as it was described years ago and may still be), includes a request for monetary compensation for the ill effects you've suffered. Perhaps if they're hit with a countersuit that requests a few hundred thousand dollars for the emotional pain, distress and other effects you've suffered, then they'll reconsider their actions.

If your attorneys are too gracious to handle a countersuit, check with lawyers who have a reputation for being aggressive. You can find litigation lawyers through your local bar association, then check their websites to see what their practice areas are. Sometimes you can get a feel for their attitudes by what they write about their practices and their successes.


You wrote that you blocked contact; do you have a PPO against them? You wrote also that they didn't pay their attorneys, if I understand correctly. Are those attorneys undertaking collection action against the brothers? if the attorneys are successful in getting judgments, that will affect the brothers' credit rating.

You also wrote that the home was split, and that the 2012 taxes are delinquent. Is the home sold, and if not, what's the status of the property taxes on that? As to the delinquent 2012 income taxes, the failure of the successor executor (personal representative)to timely address them is a reflection of his inability to handle financial matters. Raise that in your countersuit.

Good luck.

""The one that worked for the government was using government computers to access all my and my parent's personal information. The email accusing me of doing drugs was traced back to his place of work."""
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAAHAHAHAAAAA
good riddance to bad rubbish.

Mincemeat, you did make me laugh. Thank you to others who have responded. The comment, " that the brothers' behavior has nothing to do with law - their claim has already been shown to have no basis - and everything to do with picking a fight. The only way not to prolong the fight is not to join in", has been my gut reaction since this started. They just continue to harass. I just have to let it go and keep moving forward I guess. I try not to give them any satisfaction in knowing they are very hurtful. I was their only sister and always gave to them without expecting in return. When I look back, I did give and got nothing back, but I don't care. My parents taught me to be the bigger person even if you have to swallow your pride. I do not let people bully me though. I walk away!
Thank you everyone!!!

We had court 1/24/16. Still no verdict. My attorney says they have nothing but it's up to the judge. I've gained about 30 lbs over the stress of this, more stressful than caring for my parents. Looking back, I would do everything the same, just as my parents asked. Those three brothers have real issues, mostly guilt for their lack of involvement, and jealousy of me and my family that were so close to my parents.
I've had peopl praying for a positive outcome and I pray daily that God reminds me to trust and give it all to Him.

That is a very interesting question. Unfortunately it is at its most interesting in the novel Bleak House, which I don't recommend you read right now. I wish I could say that three years is a long time in the context; all I can do is send you huge sympathy and say three years is far too long for this nonsensical spite to have carried on.

So, lawyers reading: what kind of injunction is available to this lady to force her brothers to cease and desist from harassing her with their vexatious and manifestly baseless claims? How would you go about putting yourselves out of a job?

In my opinion, from what you've shared here, they've got nothing. I see that evidenced by their being on their third lawyer. It'll end very soon -- when they run out of money. Sounds like they're probably close.

Remember. It's not up to you that you did nothing wrong. It's up to them to prove that you did.

No good deed goes unpunished.

Ohforgodssake don't counterclaim! - they would love it, and it'll drag on for decades. Just keep batting them away, as you have been, quite rightly. The key thing is for it not to be interesting or exciting or for them ever to feel they're getting anywhere. Eventually they will run out of legal avenues and hopeful shysters. It would be wonderful if you could get the Supreme Court to say "there is no basis to any claim against your sister so GO AWAY and never darken a court door again" but I'm not aware of any mechanism available for you to do that. If they defame you out of court you could tell your lawyer to earn his money and warn them off doing that, but beware of adding fuel to the flames (especially if there is no actual defamation on account of their having no credibility).

At the end of Bleak House, several people are dead or mad, the entire estate has gone in costs, and the lawyers in Chancery are laughing their heads off. The moral of the story is: don't go to Law.

But I like the sound of your lawyer. I like lawyers who don't get excited and create (expensive) work for themselves.

Do not trade off the car. Drive it until it has 250000 miles on it and the engine is just about to blow. Then leave it in the worst one's front yard, leaking oil and smoking, tires flat, with a signed title and a bag of dog turds in the front seat.

Realistically, you sound like a nice person that would never do that...but I hope I made you laugh for a second....! Hang in there and remember that no good deed goes unpunished!