http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frivolous_litigation

Although in the USA parties generally bear their own legal costs, state and federal courts have rules that allow the courts to order a party who brings a frivolous lawsuit to pay the expenses of the winning side.

Last week I was reviewing such a lawsuit where the Michigan Court of Appeals chastised a lawyer and ordered a trial court to impose the costs of litigation against him (and prohibited him from passing those costs on to his client). It also issued an order barring the attorney from appearing in any other cases in the appellate court until costs were paid.

Although the order does not state the amounts owed, I estimate it will be in the $50,000 to $100,000 range.