This study compared 37 patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain who were involved in litigation with 34 patients who were not. Pain was assessed using a visual analog scale(VAS) and the checklist of the McGill Pain Questionnaire. The group involved in litigation contained significantly more males, and mean age of the group was less than of the non-litigation group. The litigation group reported more pain than the non-litigation group, and there was difference between the two groups on pain description, but no difference on VAS In lower back pain subgroup, the litigants reported more pain the non-litigants, but in cervical pain subgroup or limb pain subgroup, there was no difference between the litigants and the non-litigants on pain severity and VAS.