Mary,
Even if you didn't win, the elders would still have to secure a lawyer for their defence and as we all know, lawyers fees are astronomical. Meaning that unless the elders were extremely wealthy, they could end up owing tens of thousands (if not hundreds of thousands) of dollars in legal fees.
As I pointed out though, the Society will be there with their posse of Bethel lawyers. It won't be the elder footing the bill. The last thing they need is someone to successfully sue either the elders or the org over a DFing. It would set far too dangerous a precedent.
No Apologies