There is a time in everyone’s life when you feel that the universe is working against you. Whatever you touch goes bad. When you are faced with such a situation, you are tempted to ask, can I sue the universe for bad luck?
While you attempt to hold the universe legally accountable for your misfortunes, certain questions might pop into your mind, how do you serve the universe with the legal paper? Who is going to represent the universe? And what do the laws of your jurisdiction say about suing the universe?
This question sounds legitimate, but what does the law say about it? This article will answer all the questions you are seeking.
What does the law say? Can you actually sue the universe?
Let’s begin with what I call Law 101; the law only deals with legal entities. The legal system globally is built on the principle of jurisdiction. This means the court can only hear cases between two identifiable parties that live within its territory.
However, in our case, the universe is made up of space and time, and their contents. This makes the universe a non-entity, meaning it cannot be summoned to, held accountable for its actions, or be served with court papers.
Supposedly, you decide to sue the universe, in legal terms a lawsuit must meet the following requirement:
- A plaintiff – the person bringing the suit
- A defendant-the person being sued.
- A cause of action-the legal reason or basis for suing the person. Example of breach of contract or negligence.
- Proof of injury or damage- the plaintiff must provide evidence to show that they suffered harm.
- Remedies– what the plaintiff wants in return
- Jurisdiction- the court must have the authority over the two parties.
Based on the general requirement, your suit will have a plaintiff, which is you, for the defendant, the law requires a legal entity but the universe is not. The universe is made up of space and time and cannot be held liable for an act of negligence or breach of contract. Again, jurisdiction becomes a problem since courts must operate within a defined geographical area as enshrined in the U.S. Constitution (Article III) for federal courts or state statutes.
In summary, you cannot sue the universe for bad luck despite people having the urge to do so.
Can bad luck be considered a legal injury?
Assuming the universe is a defendant, the next question you ask yourself is, does bad luck qualify to be a legal injury? What is a legal injury? In simple form, legal injury is harm that violates someone’s right. Examples include physical harm, financial loss, emotional trauma, and property damage.
Unfortunately, bad luck is an abstract experience that cannot be considered a legal injury. It can happen randomly or coincidentally even if the parties take reasonable precautions and cannot be attributed to someone’s negligence or act. The court requires proof of injury, that is the plaintiff must prove that he or she suffered actual harm from the actions of the defendant, but in this case, it is impossible with bad luck. Hence, suing the universe for bad luck lacks any actionable cause.
Lawsuits against supernatural beings (non-entities)
Despite the law only dealing with legal entities, some people have tried suing non-entities. Here are some of the cases and their outcome:
Chambers v. God: In 2008, Nebraska state senator Ernie Chambers filed a suit against God, seeking a permanent injunction against God’s harmful activities like natural disasters. The court dismissed the case because God does not have a fixed home address to be served with a legal notice.
Pavel Mircea v. Romanian Orthodox Church: In 2005, Pavel Mircea, a Romanian prisoner serving 20 years for murder filed a suit against the Romanian Orthodox Church, as God’s representatives in Romania for not keeping him from the Devil, stating that his baptism was a binding contract with God.
The court in Timisoara in 2007 dismissed the case, ruling that “God is not a person in the eyes of the law and does not have an address.”
Chandan Kumar Singh v. Hindu god Rama: Chandan Kumar Singh, a lawyer from Bihar, India filed a suit against the Hindu god Rama for mistreating his wife, the goddess Sita. According to Chandan Kumar Singh, Lord Ram banished his wife Sita to live in exile in a forest, citing the move as “hypocritical” and “cruel.” The court dismissed the suit, calling it “impractical.”
Can you sue someone for bad luck?
While it is abundantly clear that you cannot sue the universe for bad luck, like me, you might be wondering if you can sue someone for causing your bad luck. The answer to this question will depend on how you can prove to the court that the person’s actions caused a legal injury or their act is directly linked to your injury.
In a civil lawsuit, the burden of proof lies on the plaintiff, not the defendant. You must prove to the court how the person contributed to the bad luck that caused your harm. Otherwise, your guess is as good as mine, your case will be dismissed.
Conclusion Can you sue the universe for bad luck?
Legally and practically, you cannot sue the universe for bad luck. The court deals with legal entities but not spiritual and cosmic activities. While you might get the emotional pass for the misfortunes you are going through, you cannot get any legal redress.
If you feel that everything is working against you, don’t make any rash decisions. It is not the universe that is against you are just going through a rough patch. The best solution to this kind of situation is to seek help.
FAQs
Can I sue the universe for bad luck?
You cannot sue the universe for bad luck because the universe is not a legal entity.
Can bad luck be considered a legal injury?
Bad luck is not considered a legal injury because it does not violate someone’s rights.
Does the court adjudicate on spiritual matters?
The court does not deal with spiritual matters.
Can you sue someone for causing you bad luck?
The only way you can sue someone for causing your bad luck is if you can prove to the court that the person’s act caused you a legal injury.
