Opinion ID: 891698
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Donahue's Motion to Dismiss for Untimely Service

Text: {38} Donahue raises an issue unique from the other Pharmaceutical Defendants: that the district court erred by not dismissing the claims against him due to untimely service based on Plaintiff's lack of diligence under Rule 1-004(C)(2) NMRA. The district court order denying Donahue's motion to dismiss for untimely service did so without explanation. At the hearing on Donahue's motion to dismiss, Donahue indicated he wanted a ruling for preservation purposes on the service issue in the event this Court reversed the district court on the Rule 1-012(B)(6) motion. While the district court did hear from both Donahue and Plaintiff on the issue, it did not make any oral or written findings on the service issue, but, as it had indicated it would do before hearing arguments, granted Donahue's motion to dismiss under Rule 1-012(B)(6) and denied the motion to dismiss for untimely service. As it appears to us that the district court's treatment of the motion to dismiss for untimely service was perfunctory and performed solely to permit Donahue to preserve the issue, on remand we direct the district court to reconsider the motion and rule on its merits with a reasoned order that will be suitable for review if, or when, this case reaches the appellate courts again.