When a party who files a lawsuit unreasonably delays moving the lawsuit toward a resolution (delays prosecution of the case), it is presumed the case has been abandoned, and the court may dismiss the lawsuit for want of prosecution. Such a dismissal for want of prosecution is commonly referred to as a DWOP. A party may ask the court to dismiss a case for want of prosecution, or the judge may do so without a request from a party (sua sponte).
In Iowa, if a party who has filed a lawsuit fails to actively pursue the case, it may be presumed that the case has been abandoned. This can lead to the court dismissing the case for want of prosecution, often abbreviated as DWOP. The dismissal for lack of action can be requested by the opposing party or can be initiated by the judge on their own accord (sua sponte). The Iowa Rules of Civil Procedure provide the framework for such dismissals, ensuring that cases are resolved in a timely manner and that court resources are not wasted on inactive cases. It is important for parties to a lawsuit to be diligent in prosecuting their case to avoid a DWOP dismissal.