Abstract
Russell Greer has garnered public attention due to a series of high-profile and often unsuccessful lawsuits against celebrities, media platforms, and private individuals. His litigation history—coupled with provocative self-authored works—suggests a persistent pattern of compulsive legal behavior, entitlement, and social boundary violations. This paper presents a psychobehavioral analysis of Greer's actions, drawing on concepts from personality psychology, legal behavioral studies, and forensic psychology to contextualize his behavior within a framework of maladaptive coping strategies and personality-driven compulsions.
1. Introduction
Vexatious litigants are individuals who persistently initiate legal actions that are frivolous, ungrounded, or harassing in nature. Such individuals often represent themselves pro se and may conflate personal grievances with legal cause. Russell Greer fits this profile through his repeated litigation efforts, including suits against public figures such as Taylor Swift, lawsuits aimed at online platforms like Kiwi Farms, and legally and ethically controversial positions on prostitution access rights under disability law.
This analysis explores key themes underlying Greer's behavior, including entitlement, obsessive legal engagement, and problematic interpretations of civil rights law.
2. Recurrent Themes in Litigation
Greer has filed multiple lawsuits that failed to progress beyond preliminary procedural stages, often being dismissed on grounds of lack of merit. These include:
- Greer v. Swift (Case No: 168401024 SC) – a dismissed $42 million claim against Taylor Swift.
- Greer v. Fremantle (2:21-cv-01905-RFB-NJK) – ADA-based suit against a production company, dismissed and affirmed on appeal.
- Greer v. Moon et al. – targeting the Kiwi Farms forum operator for copyright and harassment claims.
- A conviction in 2020 for electronic communications harassment in Utah.
Such repeated legal failures are not anomalies but appear to reflect a sustained and patterned use of litigation as a tool for asserting perceived rights, managing interpersonal grievances, or attempting to validate self-worth.
3. Grandiosity and Perceived Entitlement
Central to Greer's public persona is a pronounced sense of entitlement, particularly with regard to sex and public recognition. In his essay,
“Why I’m Making It Legal for Your 18 Year Old Daughter to Get In Bed with a Complete Stranger for Only 500 Bucks”, Greer argues that sex workers should be legally obligated to serve clients with disabilities under the ADA. This conflates anti-discrimination protections with entitlement to access others’ bodies, fundamentally misrepresenting the scope and intent of civil rights law.
Such beliefs align with narcissistic personality traits—especially the entitlement and grandiosity facets—as described in the DSM-5 (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). Individuals high in narcissistic traits may externalize blame and perceive themselves as deserving of special treatment or exemptions.
4. Obsessive Legal Behavior and Identity Fusion with Litigation
Greer’s repeated use of litigation despite negative outcomes suggests a psychological fusion between personal identity and legal action. This phenomenon, sometimes called
legal obsession or
identity-based litigation, occurs when individuals view the legal system not as a last resort but as an extension of personal self-expression or justice-seeking.
Rather than adapting to social feedback or adjusting behavior based on legal losses, Greer appears to double down, often authoring manifestos or books to justify and reframe his failures. His 2020 book,
“Why I Sued Taylor Swift”, positions him as a misunderstood advocate rather than a vexatious litigant. This is consistent with psychological defense mechanisms such as rationalization, projection, and narrative reconstruction.
5. Boundary Violations and Interpersonal Dysfunction
Greer’s conviction for harassment, combined with his prior lawsuit against a prostitute he solicited, reflects problematic interpersonal behavior. His writing and legal actions suggest a limited capacity to recognize or respect others' autonomy, particularly in contexts involving women.
In forensic psychological terms, this pattern could reflect traits from Cluster B personality disorders—specifically borderline or antisocial elements—though this cannot be definitively stated without clinical evaluation. The presence of stalking behaviors, fixation on specific individuals, and disregard for consent all support the inference of compromised interpersonal functioning.
6. Legal System as a Target and Tool
Individuals with this behavioral profile often view the legal system as both the source of injustice and the mechanism for redress. Greer’s writings portray him as persecuted by the courts and media, even as he continues to engage with those systems aggressively. This ambivalence mirrors patterns found in litigants with persecutory ideation, where systemic mistrust coexists with dependency on legal recognition for validation.
7. Conclusion
Russell Greer exhibits a sustained pattern of litigation characterized by legal misinterpretation, personal entitlement, and social boundary violations. His behavior reflects a fusion of personal identity with legal engagement, reinforced by narcissistic and obsessive traits. Though often dismissed as frivolous or eccentric, his actions demonstrate deeper psychological patterns consistent with maladaptive coping and potential personality dysfunction.
As courts and society continue to encounter such individuals, understanding the underlying psychobehavioral dynamics is critical for balancing legal fairness, mental health considerations, and protection against misuse of judicial resources.
References
- American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.). Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Publishing.
- Lester, D., & Spinella, M. (2007). Narcissism and obsessionality: A case study. Psychological Reports, 100(2), 438–440.
- Taitz, R. (2011). The Vexatious Litigant: Understanding and Responding to Legal Obsession. Journal of Forensic Psychology Practice, 11(2), 109–123.
- Freeman, D., & Garety, P. (2000). Comments on the content of persecutory delusions: Does the definition need clarification? British Journal of Clinical Psychology, 39(4), 407–414.
Russell Greer: Litigious Avenger™ Action Figure
Box Art
Included Accessories
Stack of Lawsuits
Laptop with WordPad
“Why I Sued Taylor Swift” Booklet
Tiny Gavel
Prostitute Refund Voucher
Celebrity Cutouts
Voice Box Feature
Special Edition Face Molding
NOT Included
