Opinion ID: 1249280
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: State Engineer's Decision Is Beyond Its Power

Text: Jensen next contends that the state engineer does not have the authority to determine whether a water right had been lost through non-use. He asserts that this is a judicial decision beyond the state engineer's power. The state engineer and the BLM concede that the engineer does not have the authority to finally adjudicate whether a vested water right has been forfeited. Daniels Irrigation Co. v. Daniel Summit Co., 571 P.2d 1323, 1324-25 (Utah 1977). However, they argue that this court is not required to reach this question because Jensen failed to prosecute the case to judgment within two years and it therefore must be dismissed. We recently held that under section 73-3-15, when a party fails to take all reasonable steps to secure a timely trial setting, the action should be dismissed. Blake v. Hansen, 782 P.2d 472, 474 (Utah 1989). There we stated, [C]ounsel knew of the need to go to trial before the expiration of the two-year period [and] ... knew that the trial date fixed by the trial court executive was too late, and yet did nothing to bring the matter to the attention of the trial judge. Id.; accord Dansie v. Lambert, 542 P.2d 742 (Utah 1975); Provo City v. Hansen, 601 P.2d 141 (Utah 1979). In the instant case, Jensen did not file a notice of readiness for trial until eleven months after the case was filed. Reasonable steps to secure a timely trial setting were not taken. Moreover, when Jensen sought consolidation, he should have been aware that the two-year period had nearly run and that a new trial date would have to be set beyond the two-year limit. There are no unusual circumstances to warrant a result contrary to Blake. Therefore, we hold that the dismissal for failure to prosecute to a final judgment obviates the need to determine if the state engineer acted beyond his authority. The dismissal was proper.