Many people fear that the court's latest ruling will 'open the floodgates' for/to a host of new lawsuits. [=will cause/allow a large number of new lawsuits]
Once the 'floodgates have opened', there will be no way to stop all the lawsuits.
(..) Oh, I remember them all. Maxwell Rankin? What was it, uh, or women that he raped? Alberto Plank? You remember him? He burned his children alive? You'll open the floodgates, Harvey. You want that on your conscience? Then, make a deal. It's on you to keep them in jail. Okay. Okay, Harvey. (..)2011 TvShow: Suits Title: Rules of the Game Season: 1 Episode 11