The Guinness folks say that the longest-running case by an individual is Martin V. Sample, filed in 1972, and as of 2006 still on the active docket. read more
Longest-running civil law case in U.S. may be nearing end. In England, the longest-running appears to have been the “McLibel” case. McDonald’s had been the target of some scathing claims by some activists, and in a poorly-reasoned pique decided to file a lawsuit for defamation in 1990. The case dragged on for years. read more
The longest running civil court case has been led by James Martin (USA) since 14 December 1972, when the issue in the Martin v. Sample case was filed; it was then appealed to the US Supreme Court, Washington, DC, USA in October 1981, and docketed as case number 81-6884, on 14 June 1982. read more
Another source claims that a case in Poona, India is the world's longest litigation case. On April 28, 1966, Balasaheb Patloji Thorat received a favorable judgment on a lawsuit filed by his ancestor, Maloji Thorat, 761 years earlier in 1205. read more