Opinion ID: 2634653
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: the department was entitled to a decision on its motion to dismiss its petition to modify the december 14, 1998 child support order

Text: On July 31, 2001, the Department filed its amended petition for modification of the December 14, 1998, child support order. The magistrate responded by ordering a hearing to verify the Housel's marital status. On September 27, 2001, the Department moved to dismiss its petition without prejudice. A hearing was subsequently held on October 2, 2001, at which time the magistrate ruled that the December 14, 1998, order was void without addressing the merits of the Department's motion to dismiss. Idaho Rule of Civil Procedure (I.R.C.P.) 41(a) [2] provides three methods for a plaintiff to dismiss an action. The first and second methods, covered by I.R.C.P. 41(a)(1), provide for dismissal by notice or by stipulation of the parties. The third method, contained in I.C.R. 41(a)(2), provides for dismissal by order of the court. `Generally, voluntary dismissal under I.C.R. 41(a)(1) is a matter of right; the plaintiff need not obtain the court's consent to do so.' Rohr v. Rohr, 118 Idaho 689, 692, 800 P.2d 85, 88 (1990) (quoting Rohr v. Rohr, 118 Idaho 698, 702, 800 P.2d 94, 98 (Ct.App.1989)). `Unlike I.R.C.P. 41(a)(1), a motion to dismiss under I.R.C.P. 41(a)(2) is not a matter of right, but is discretionary with the trial court both as to whether a dismissal should be allowed, as well as to the terms and conditions to be imposed if allowed.'  Id. (emphasis in original) In this case, no notice of dismissal or signed stipulation of dismissal was filed. Therefore, I.R.C.P. 41(a)(2) is the appropriate context in which to analyze the Department's motion to dismiss. A. Standard of Review [A] motion to dismiss pursuant to I.C.R. 41(a)(2) is addressed to the sound discretion of the trial court and its ruling will not be overturned on appeal absent an abuse of discretion. Rohr, 118 Idaho at 693, 800 P.2d at 89 (citing Hamilton v. Firestone Tire & Rubber Co. Inc., 679 F.2d 143 (9th Cir.1982)). To prove an abuse of discretion, this Court applies a three-factor test. Those factors are: (1) whether the trial court correctly perceived the issue as one of discretion; (2) whether the trial court acted within the boundaries of this discretion and consistent with the legal standards applicable to the specific choices available to it; and (3) whether the trial court reached its decision by an exercise of reason. Baxter v. Craney, 135 Idaho 166, 169, 16 P.3d 263, 266 (2000) (citing Sun Valley Shopping Ctr., Inc. v. Idaho Power Co., 119 Idaho 87, 94, 803 P.2d 993, 1000 (1991)). B. The Department was entitled to a ruling on the Department's motion to dismiss its petition to modify the December 14, 1998 support order. The Department's motion to dismiss was filed on September 27, 2001. It was not withdrawn prior to or during the October 2, 2001, hearing. The magistrate proceeded to the merits of the Department's petition to modify the existing support order without first addressing the Department's motion to dismiss. Once filed, the Department's motion to dismiss was entitled to consideration by the court. By declaring the Department's petition to modify void, the court effectively denied the Department's motion to dismiss without explanation. Such a de facto denial amounts to an abuse of discretion. While the Department was not entitled to a dismissal as a matter of right, it was entitled to an articulated ruling on its motion to dismiss. That did not happen in this case. If the Department wishes to continue with the motion to dismiss, it is entitled to a hearing on remand.