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 Washington State, if a party who has filed a lawsuit does not actively pursue the case towards a resolution, 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 want of prosecution can be initiated by a motion from the opposing party or the court can dismiss the case on its own accord (sua sponte). The specific rules and time frames for when a court may dismiss a case for want of prosecution are outlined in the Washington State court rules, and they provide guidance on the process and requirements for such a dismissal. It is important for parties in a lawsuit to be aware of these rules to avoid a DWOP and ensure their case is heard.