Many of the defendants have agreed to a settlement of $250,000 in exchange for an agreement not to sue local officials.

They have been suing Catholic dioceses and officials in sexual abuse cases involving priests and children.

The 1994 Administrative Procedure Law allows citizens to sue officials for abuse of authority or malfeasance.

In June 2002, Chkhartishvili successfully sued officials who had made allegations of corruption against him.

But to solve this infrequent problem, the bill would erect a nearly insurmountable barrier to suing officials who peddle recklessly false information.

He denied complaining, then threatened to sue local officials for identifying him, and questioned the timing of the crackdown.

The same laws allow citizens to sue officials for abuse of authority or malfeasance.

Once-cowed workers take to the streets when their wages go unpaid, and aggrieved farmers are apt to try suing local officials.

The janitor, who said he feared the people following him were going to attack him, sued Mr. Bevona and other local officials.

He was forced to resign once the ruling party took power in the 2009 national elections when the newly formed government sued top officials of the old regime.