Opinion ID: 2155909
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Dismissal of the First Petition

Text: On appeal, Yolanda presents two reasons to vacate the Family Court's decision to dismiss her second petition. First, Yolanda argues that the Family Court dismissed her first petition without prejudice and that, consequently, her second petition is not barred. Second, assuming that the trial court did dismiss her first petition with prejudice, Yolanda argues that the Family Court should have treated her second petition as a motion for relief from a final judgment under Fam. Ct. Civ. R. 60(b)(1), 60(b)(6). Because we find that the Family Court dismissed her first petition without prejudice, it is not necessary to reach Yolanda's second argument. The trial court dismissed Yolanda's second petition based on its assumption that it had dismissed Yolanda's identical first petition with prejudice, observing that unless stated otherwise, all dismissals are with prejudice. [4] Yolanda maintains that the trial court did, in fact, expressly permit her to refile her petition at the end of the first hearing. The hearing transcript is not crystal clear, but a fair reading of the exchange between Yolanda's counsel and the court indicates that the trial court agreed that Yolanda could refile her petition. [5] As a result, the trial court erred by dismissing Yolanda's second petition because a dismissal without prejudice does not bar a later petition based on the same cause of action. [6]