Who is Mrs. Bardell from The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club and what is their importance?

Mrs. Bardell is Mr. Pickwick's landlady. When Mr. Pickwick discusses his intent to hire Sam Weller, she misunderstands what he says and assumes he intends to propose to her. She sues Pickwick for breach of promise, using the law firm of Dodson and Fogg to press her suit. Bardell wins the lawsuit, but Mr. Pickwick refuses to pay his fines, which means that she is unable to pay her legal fees. Mrs. Bardell ends up in Fleet Prison.