Dear r/AskHistorians,
I find myself in a troubled time. I am writing a research paper on vexatious plaintiffs and the praetorian response/innovations. While I find myself adequately suited to discuss the praetor/judex role, I am have an enormous amount of trouble finding trials of vexatious plaintiffs. I know many exist; I am discussing Carfania from Valerius Maximus XIII, but I would like to find others. Does anybody have any recommendations for primary/secondary sources for me to dig into? The Digest mentions Vexatious trials and the responses, but not specific trials. Gaius' Institutes has yielded minimal results and the rest of "Memorable Deeds and Sayings" has been unconnected to my thesis. Any further help/guidance would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you!
Alexander, M.C. (1990), Trials in the Late Roman Republic, 149 BC-50 BC., Toronto. (is available online)
Provides an in-depth list of trials from that period (date, charge, defendant, prosecutor, primary and secondary sources etc.). You would have to research trials which appeal to your needs (maybe P. Clodius would be worth looking at?).
Two come to my mind. M. Acilius Glabrio ran for election for the censorship in 189 BC. He was loved by the populace to which made him disliked by nobles and he was prosecuted for appropriating spoils from the war in Greece (with a testimony from Cato). Twice the punishment was deliberated, however, upon him declining to run for election the charges were dropped (Livy. 37.58.2-8).
From Alexander's book as well, we know that in 140 BC P. Cornelius Scipio Aemilianus was prosecuted by Ti. Claudius Asellus, a man who Scipio had attempted to downgrade the citizen rights of two years previously according to Cicero (De Oratore. 2.268).
Hopefully this is something that you can use for your research.