[joshstrange]

> in a country where legal bills can climb really fast

Honest question: Are there countries where this is not the case? I'd be interested to read more about how that manage that. If it's some sort of "protecting the little guy"-type thing or a general suppression of legal costs. Or maybe I'm reading too much into your comment.

[adrian_b]

In many countries, the loser pays all the legal bills.

So if you have been wrongly accused, that may cost you nothing.

[mrkstu]

With the caveat that you may end up paying the costs of the other sides high priced legal team.

[cactacea]

It is more that labor protections in most of the industrialized world actually mean something, such that this sort of behavior is generally not even to be considered an option by an employer.

[FabCH]

Regulated legal insurance market coupled with „looser pays all the costs“ system.

The insurance doesn’t mind fighting for you because they will get paid by the company making the frivolous suit. You don’t pay much, 10$/month.

Although in this particular case, you wouldn’t even need that, since either you took the documents and that is criminal fraud prosecuted by the state or you didn’t take the documents and then the company would be in hella trouble if they perjured themselves to the public prosecutor claiming you did.

[shimman]

Yes, the US is actually unique in this position. It even has it's own name the "American Rule."

In every other country, the loser pays the winner's legal fees.

[im3w1l]

Doesn't that mean that if you have a slam dunk case you can get a super expensive lawyer just to run up costs as much as possible? Hell, could you ask your friend to be your legal representative and have him charge you a gorillion dollar in legal fees? Then when you win you split the loot?

[tfourb]

Civilized countries regulate the rates that lawyers can charge for standard work. Also lawyers get only reimbursed for reasonable costs by the loser. Still expensive, but not absurdly so.

[tiahura]

No. The fees must be objectively reasonable and usual and customary for the effort and level of skill required. To get fees, you must submit an itemized billing statement that gets picked apart by the other side.

[FabCH]

No because lawyer is a protected profession with regulated rates.

Unless your friend happens to actually be a legally licensed lawyer.

[samatman]

It does, and it absolutely has a chilling effect in countries which don't do things this way.

Sue someone who can spend millions of pounds (for the sake of argument) on defence? Better be certain you can win... against someone who can spend millions of pounds, and probably went to the same public school as the judge.

In America, legal fees can be awarded as additional damages. We should do it more than we do. But given those two options? I'm on Team American Rule, 100%

[watwut]

You are making stuff up. You wont get paid arbitrary large fees, but the amount of fees usually paid for similar case.

[samatman]

I am doing so such thing. You are ignorant and you are being rude, it's a bad combination.

The English Rule has several variations by jurisdiction, you'll find a handy map here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_rule_(attorney's_fees)

In England (where pounds come from) costs are not always rewarded, but very frequently, they are: and it's actual costs, not some fixed fee. A litigant who spends more on solicitors indemnifies the loser accordingly.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Costs_in_English_law#What_can_...?

Perhaps you live somewhere where this is not the usual basis. Perhaps you just felt like being rude online. We'll never know.