Opinion ID: 1402493
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Dismissal of Case with Prejudice

Text: This Court has recognized a hearing examiner's authority to dismiss a worker's compensation case. See, e.g., Bila v. Accurate Telecom, 964 P.2d 1270 (Wyo.1998); Walsh v. Holly Sugar Corporation, 931 P.2d 241 (Wyo.1997). The hearing examiner in this case did not indicate what procedural rule she relied upon in dismissing Wilkinson's action. Nevertheless, the parties seem to agree that W.R.C.P. 41 was applicable to this situation. That rule states in pertinent part: (a) Voluntary Dismissal; Effect Thereof. . . . . (2) By Order of Court. Except as provided in paragraph (1), an action shall not be dismissed at the plaintiff's instance save upon order of the court and upon such terms and conditions as the court deems proper. If a counterclaim has been pleaded by a defendant prior to the service upon the defendant of the plaintiff's motion to dismiss, the counterclaim shall remain pending for independent adjudication by the court. Unless otherwise specified in the order, a dismissal under this paragraph is without prejudice. (b) Involuntary Dismissal; Effect Thereof. (1) By Defendant. For failure of the plaintiff to prosecute or to comply with these rules or any order of court, a defendant may move for dismissal of an action or of any claim against the defendant. Unless the court in its order for dismissal otherwise specifies, a dismissal under this subdivision and any dismissal not provided for in this rule, other than a dismissal for lack of jurisdiction, for improper venue, or for failure to join a party under Rule 19, operates as an adjudication upon the merits. (2) By the Court. Upon its own motion the court may dismiss without prejudice any action not prosecuted or brought to trial with due diligence. W.R.C.P. 41. Wilkinson moved, presumably under W.R.C.P. 41(a)(2), for a voluntary dismissal of the action without prejudice. He sought the dismissal because he was not prepared for the contested case hearing and because he had filed a petition for a writ of mandamus with the Natrona County district court to compel the division to comply with the Medical Commission's order. [2] The division objected to Wilkinson's motion to dismiss without prejudice and requested that a dismissal with prejudice be entered against him. The hearing examiner denied Wilkinson's motion to dismiss without prejudice and told him that he must present evidence in support of his application or a dismissal with prejudice would be entered against him. Wilkinson refused to proceed with the contested case hearing, and the hearing examiner dismissed the action with prejudice. When a W.R.C.P. 41(a)(2) motion to dismiss is denied, the case continues, and the order is not appealable. 9 Charles A. Wright & Arthur R. Miller, Federal Practice and Procedure § 2376 (1971). We will not, therefore, review the hearing examiner's denial of Wilkinson's motion to dismiss without prejudice. The division's request for a dismissal with prejudice was presumably brought under W.R.C.P. 41(b)(1). A dismissal under that rule generally amounts to an adjudication on the merits. W.R.C.P. 41(b)(1); Wright & Miller, supra, at § 2369. There seem to be two underlying bases for the hearing examiner's decision to dismiss Wilkinson's application with prejudice: (1) Wilkinson refused, in contravention of her prior orders, to proceed with his case; and (2) he failed to meet his burden of proof. We agree with the hearing examiner on both fronts. Wilkinson admitted that part of the reason he requested the motion to dismiss without prejudice was to delay the contested case hearing because he was not prepared for it. The hearing examiner had previously denied Wilkinson's motion for a continuance of the hearing, and we cannot fault her for refusing to allow him to circumvent her earlier ruling. Furthermore, Wilkinson failed to meet his burden to prove that he was entitled to receive extended permanent total disability benefits when he declined to present evidence in support of his application. The hearing examiner correctly dismissed Wilkinson's July 15, 1997, application with prejudice. See Turnbough v. Campbell County Memorial Hospital, 499 P.2d 595, 598 (Wyo. 1972) (McIntyre, C.J., concurring).