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 Missouri, when a party who has filed a lawsuit fails to actively pursue the case, it can lead to a presumption that the case has been abandoned. This inaction can result in the court dismissing the case for want of prosecution, often abbreviated as DWOP. Either a party involved in the lawsuit can file a motion to dismiss the case for want of prosecution, or the judge may decide to dismiss the case on their own initiative (sua sponte). This serves as a procedural mechanism to clear the court's docket of cases that are not being actively litigated, ensuring judicial resources are used efficiently and that defendants are not left in a state of prolonged legal uncertainty.