# Can you sue anyone for anything? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 29, 2003, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-sue-anyone-for-anything/178398 "2003-05-29T23:41:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Jayrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Jayrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jayrot)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2003, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-sue-anyone-for-anything/178398/21 "2003-05-30T21:40:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by MegaDave \* > \*\*…to be honest i have no idea what you mean by “stickies”. \*\* Indeed. In your defense, however, the thread I was thinking about is no longer sticky, although a related one is (look at the top of the forum). [Read and learn](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=166558&highlight=politics) By the way, I’m not trying to be a Jr. Mod or anything. I’m just trying to help _you_, as parental as that may sound. ---
**Author:** ![manhattan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manhattan/32/7_2.png) [@manhattan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manhattan)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2003, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-sue-anyone-for-anything/178398/22 "2003-05-30T23:02:40Z")
What he’s trying to say is that we have another forum, Great Debates, for persons advocating certain positions. This one is for just the facts, man. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2003, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-sue-anyone-for-anything/178398/23 "2003-05-30T23:11:38Z")
Can you sue the army? Someone I know tried to & was told you can’t. How about the president of the usa? I doubt you can sue him. Also, don’t you need a real basis for your lawsuit? Cuz couldn’t the other party sue you back for malicious persecution? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Hand](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c68b51/32.png) [@Mr.Hand](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Hand)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2003, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-sue-anyone-for-anything/178398/24 "2003-05-31T00:12:49Z")
If you want to see some of the weirdest cases out there (including someone suing Satan – hilarious opinion), check out [this link](http://members.aol.com/schwenkler/wcc/#Fisher%20v.%20Lowe). ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2003, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-sue-anyone-for-anything/178398/25 "2003-05-31T00:35:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by handy \* > \*\*Can you sue the army? Someone I know tried to & was told you can’t. How about the president of the usa? I doubt you can sue him. > > Also, don’t you need a real basis for your lawsuit? Cuz couldn’t the other party sue you back for malicious persecution? \*\* You can sue anyone, anytime, for anything. Be prepared, however, for your suit to be quickly dismissed if there is no merit (e.g., naming an improper party). If you have no basis for your suit, you can be liable for malicious prosecution and/or abuse of process. ---
**Author:** ![ForErrors](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecae2f/32.png) [@ForErrors](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ForErrors)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2014, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-sue-anyone-for-anything/178398/26 "2014-06-18T00:53:22Z")
So, just as an example to add to this discussion… 🆒 What would the result be if say for example there was an issue I was having with a TV station based in Arizona for example, but then instead of trying to sue that company, I try to sue WGBH Boston, despite knowing full well that WGBH has nothing to do with the TV station in Arizona I was having issues with? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![dofe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ba0ec/32.png) [@dofe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dofe)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2014, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-sue-anyone-for-anything/178398/27 "2014-06-18T01:11:13Z")
> [@ForErrors](#): > > So, just as an example to add to this discussion… 🆒 > > What would the result be if say for example there was an issue I was having with a TV station based in Arizona for example, but then instead of trying to sue that company, I try to sue WGBH Boston, despite knowing full well that WGBH has nothing to do with the TV station in Arizona I was having issues with? 😃 Motion to dismiss for improper party and lack of personal jurisdiction. Really, courts are not lacking in the common sense department, despite what lay persons think. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2014, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-sue-anyone-for-anything/178398/28 "2014-06-18T01:12:13Z")
> [@ForErrors](#): > > So, just as an example to add to this discussion… 🆒 > > What would the result be if say for example there was an issue I was having with a TV station based in Arizona for example, but then instead of trying to sue that company, I try to sue WGBH Boston, despite knowing full well that WGBH has nothing to do with the TV station in Arizona I was having issues with? 😃 Zombie issues? Anyway, the result would be that the Boston station would move to dismiss the lawsuit, claiming you had alleged no recognizable claim against them. Depending on how egregious you were in failing to name the right party, you may also be sanctioned by the court. Or, who knows, maybe WGBH will offer you a sizable settlement. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2014, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-sue-anyone-for-anything/178398/29 "2014-06-18T01:26:34Z")
> [@ForErrors](#): > > What would the result be if say for example there was an issue I was having with a TV station based in Arizona for example, but then instead of trying to sue that company, I try to sue WGBH Boston, despite knowing full well that WGBH has nothing to do with the TV station in Arizona I was having issues with? 😃 I’m pretty sure the statute of limitations has passed on this one. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-sue-anyone-for-anything/178398.md?page=1)