"It is an improper attempt to put the entire religion on trial."

He deemed the suit an improper attempt to usurp the county's authority via "a tortured judicial interpretation of an antiquated statute from a bygone era."

Several years earlier, Mr. Fortuna had exposed an improper attempt by Mrs. Connelly to shield one of her subordinates from a charge of sexual harassment.

Last year, British Airways publicly admitted that it made improper attempts to undermine Virgin.

British Airways admitted to improper attempts to undermine Virgin Atlantic Airways and will pay damages.

The judge said the attempt to regulate guns through tort law represented an "improper attempt to have this court substitute its judgment for that of the legislature."

"This is clearly an improper attempt at judicial legislation," Mr. Shifman said of Judge Kaufman's ruling.

Forum selection clauses have been criticised by a minority of courts as improper attempts to divest them of personal jurisdiction over the parties.

"Requiring lawyers to identify cash-paying clients constitutes an improper attempt by the Government to intrude into the attorney-client relationship," Mr. Lefcourt said when he filed his suit.

In motions to dismiss the lawsuit, Disney calls the new lawsuit "frivolous" and "a wholly improper attempt to revive a claim already rejected three times."