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 Pennsylvania, 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 prosecution can occur either through a motion by the opposing party or by the court acting on its own initiative (sua sponte). Pennsylvania Rules of Civil Procedure provide the framework for such dismissals, ensuring that cases are moved through the system efficiently and without undue delay. The specific rules and timeframes for when a court may dismiss a case for want of prosecution can vary, so it is important to be aware of the local rules of the court handling the lawsuit.