There's one lawyer who has large presence on YouTube. He specializes in Writ of Mandamus. It is an effective tool. According to him, suing does not cause any negative outcome, because you're not asking for money, to fire somebody etc. All you're asking for is for USCIS to do their job and give decision. Actually, you never end up going to court etc. The moment USCIS get served, they typically resolve it within 60 days and lawyer withdraws the lawsuit.
I've never heard of USCIS retaliating against somebody who used their legal right to file a lawsuit.