forum shopping

American

[fawr-uhm shop-ing] / ˈfɔr əm ˌʃɒp ɪŋ /

Or forum-shopping

noun

Law.

the act or practice of choosing a jurisdiction in which to file a lawsuit as a way of trying to increase one's chance of winning the case.

She was accused of forum shopping after she filed her case in a state she was not a resident of, but where defamation laws are stricter.

Etymology

Origin of forum shopping

First recorded in 1945–50

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Injunctions are also criticised for enabling what is known as forum shopping - the practice of filing a lawsuit in a jurisdiction where a more favourable ruling is likely.

From BBC

One motion argued filing in the Northern District of Texas venue was a blatant attempt at "forum shopping."

From Salon

So-called forum shopping is nothing new.

From Los Angeles Times

If you’ve been paying attention to the legal system recently, you’ve probably heard the term “forum shopping.”

From Slate

The practice traditionally labeled “forum shopping” is not especially new.

From Los Angeles Times

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023