Opinion ID: 2218327
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: inexcusable delay

Text: In affirming this case, based upon the above statutes and the settled law of this state, we observe that, essentially, there is a total unexplained lack of activity in this file for a period of approximately 12 years and 10 months. Plaintiff relies heavily on a stipulation signed by the parties' counsel on December 3, 1975. This stipulation provided for the Sub-contractor to place test patches on the roof of Plaintiff's building. The stipulation also provided that Plaintiff would determine if the test repair procedures were satisfactory on or before August 1, 1976. The parties did not waive their right to proceed against any other party. Even if we were to consider this stipulation to provide an excuse for delay, the fact remains that no court activity occurred for another 12 years. Further, outside of any court environment, no activity between the parties is evident between 1979 and 1987. Were we to consider that there was excusable delay from December 3, 1975 to August 1, 1976, we are still confronted with an absolute, unquestioned, inexcusable inactivity for a period of 12 years.