Court Opinion

ID: 9760963
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-29 01:26:23.687723+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:29:19.247738
License: Public Domain

BIERY, Justice,
concurring.
I concur in the result based on the use of the dismissal with prejudice sanction in this fact situation thirty-two days after issue was joined.
Because of the sensitive nature of the case, counsel for the defendants were no doubt doing their best for their clients to dispose of the matter expeditiously. This goal, nevertheless, must be balanced against a reasonable opportunity for opposing counsel to develop his client’s asserted cause of action.
The trial judge’s decision was no doubt based on a belief that there were two valid certificates of non-appearance by plaintiff. As set forth in the main opinion, the first certificate of nonappearance was based on short notice and, as a practical matter, nullified by the subsequent agreement of counsel to reschedule the deposition.
I agree that the cause of action should be reinstated for further proceedings.