Opinion ID: 146834
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Prejudice to the Adversary

Text: Parks’ failure to prosecute the case prejudiced Non-Responsive Defendants. An adversary may be prejudiced where the failure to prosecute results in the irretrievable loss of evidence, the dimming of witnesses’ memories, or deprivation of information through non-cooperation with discovery. See Adams, 29 F.3d 863 at 873 (citing Scarborough v. Eubanks, 747 F.2d 871, 876 (3d Cir. 1984)). In over five years, Parks’ counsel has failed to identify the door’s manufacturer. He did not bring suit against the hotel, nor did he seek discovery against the hotel as to the identity of the door’s manufacturer. In the meantime, the hotel was torn down and the door discarded. Consequently, evidence that could have been used to defend against Parks’ product-liability claim, such as the door itself, hotel records, and the memories of witnesses who once worked at the hotel, has been irretrievably lost. Therefore, this factor weighs in favor of Non-Responsive 6 Defendants.