Ala. Code §§ 6-5-155 to 6-5-156.5 § 6-5-156.5
Frivolous or Bad Faith Action.
Operative Text
If the action is brought by a private citizen and the court finds that the action was frivolous or motivated by bad faith, costs and attorney fees may be taxed to the person.
Under Ala. Code §§ 6-5-155 to 6-5-156.5, when a private individual files a legal action and a court determines that the action was either frivolous or brought in bad faith, the court has the authority to order that person to pay the opposing party's court costs and attorney fees. This provision acts as a deterrent against meritless or malicious litigation. The rule applies specifically to actions brought by private citizens, not government entities.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Ala. Code §§ 6-5-155 to 6-5-156.5 provides property owners and managers with a potential avenue for recovering costs and attorney fees when a private party files a frivolous or bad-faith action against them. Operators who face such claims generally document the lack of merit or improper motive behind the action throughout the proceedings. Maintaining thorough records of all communications and transactions can support a court's evaluation of whether an opposing claim was brought in good faith.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Ala. Code §§ 6-5-155 to 6-5-156.5 establishes that tenants who bring legal actions should be aware that a court may impose costs and attorney fees if it finds the claim was frivolous or motivated by bad faith. Tenants with genuine, well-founded grievances are generally protected from this type of sanction, as the provision targets meritless or malicious claims. Tenants considering legal action may benefit from consulting a tenant-rights organization or legal aid service to understand whether their claim has a sound basis before proceeding.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 16, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
Effective Timeline
References Out
No outbound references recorded yet for this provision.
References In
Rules and statutes that cite this regulation