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Civil procedure

dismissal for want of prosecution

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 Vermont, 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 progress can be initiated by a motion from the opposing party or can be done by the judge on their own accord (sua sponte). Vermont's court rules and procedures guide how and when a judge may decide to dismiss a case for want of prosecution. The purpose of such rules is to ensure that cases are resolved in a timely manner and that court resources are not wasted on inactive cases. Parties involved in litigation should be aware of these rules to avoid having their cases dismissed due to inactivity.

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Civil procedure

dismissal for want of prosecution

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Vermont State Code

Vermont State Code

Civil procedure

dismissal for want of prosecution

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