You can usually get legal aid, but how far it goes varies on a per-country basis: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legal_aid#Europe http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leg

You can usually get legal aid, but how far it goes varies on a per-country basis: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legal_aid#Europe http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legal_aid#Europe So yes, suing random people depends on having the financial means to stomach the losses. But in general, in this system you don't go to court without a good chance to win the case. Which is IMO the way it should be.