Courts generally presume that a lawsuit has been filed in good faith, and a party moving for sanctions against the party who filed a lawsuit or claim must overcome this presumption to prove abuse of the judicial process. Thus, courts distinguish between (1) claims that are ultimately found to be merely groundless (and thus not sanctionable) and (2) claims that are ultimately found to be both groundless and brought in bad faith or for the purpose of harassment (and thus sanctionable). The sanctions rules generally do not require a party or its attorney to be right; they require the party or its attorney to make a reasonable inquiry into the facts and the laws related to the claims.

Contempt of court is broadly defined as disobedience to or disrespect of a court by acting in opposition to its authority. Contempt of court may be punished by the court with civil and criminal sanctions or penalties.

In Maryland, the legal framework acknowledges the presumption that lawsuits are filed in good faith. To impose sanctions for abuse of the judicial process, the moving party must demonstrate that the opposing party's claim was not only groundless but also filed in bad faith or for harassment purposes. Maryland Rule 1-341, for example, allows courts to order a party, the party's attorney, or both, to pay reasonable expenses and attorney's fees if the court finds that there was no substantial justification for the prosecution or defense of a proceeding and that it was interposed for an improper purpose, such as to harass. However, the rules do not require absolute correctness in legal claims; rather, they mandate that parties and their attorneys conduct a reasonable investigation into the facts and applicable laws before filing claims. Regarding contempt of court, Maryland recognizes both civil and criminal contempt. Civil contempt generally involves failure to comply with a court order, and criminal contempt involves conduct that disrespects the court or obstructs the administration of justice. Sanctions for contempt can include fines, imprisonment, or other penalties, depending on the nature and severity of the contemptuous action.