[pasbesoin]

I thought that, in the U.S. at least, the use of a legal threat itself as extortion (as opposed the merits of a posited case, itself) was a serious "gray area" if not outright illegal in itself.

"We will take you to court to ruin you." (That being the primary objective, rather than the winning of whatever case is filed.) I imagine the UK has its own views on this, but wouldn't such an approach -- blatantly expressed -- receive serious scrutiny from any competent U.S. judge?