Court Opinion

ID: 9741457
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 20:55:54.734408+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:24:24.211114
License: Public Domain

HENDERSON, Justice
(dissenting).
SDCL 15-11-11 provides that the circuit courts of this state “may dismiss any civil case for want of prosecution upon written notice to counsel of record where there has been no activity for one year, unless good cause is shown to the contrary.” (Emphasis supplied mine.) Because good cause is shown to the contrary, I believe the circuit court abused its discretion in dismissing this action. Therefore, I dissent.
Appellees’ original counsel, Mr. Farrar, became seriously ill and discovery proceedings had to be delayed. Appellants’ attorney, Mr. Stanton, contacted the Gunderson law firm and was informed that Mr. Farrar was keeping the case and was expected to recover and actively represent appellees. Although Mr. Farrar returned to the Gun-derson law firm, his health never recovered to the point of permitting his attendance at discovery proceedings to be conducted in California. After Mr. Farrar’s unfortunate death, Mr. Stanton again contacted the Gunderson law firm and was informed that the case had not been reassigned and that he would be contacted when it was reassigned.
Thereafter, and while Mr. Stanton was awaiting the Gunderson law firm’s internal reassignment of the case, Attorney John Potter took over the case and had the file thereon for one year. However, Attorney Potter never put in an appearance in the case, and the Gunderson law firm never made a formal withdrawal as required by SDCL 16-18-31. Finck v. Finck, 354 N.W.2d 198, 201 (S.D.1984). See also, SDCL ch. 16-18, Appx. DR 2-110 and EC 2-32. If the Gunderson law firm had complied with SDCL 16-18-31 and obtained an order to withdraw, and if Attorney Potter had sought leave for substitution of counsel, this case would have properly proceeded and the present situation would not be before this Court. Instead, because Mr. Stanton accommodated the difficulties experienced at the Gunderson law firm due to Mr. Farrar’s death, Mr. Stanton’s professional kindness will be punished as will his clients herein.
This case is unlike the circumstances recently addressed in Duncan v. Pennington County Housing Authority, 382 N.W.2d 425 (S.D.1986), as it is under the purview of different statutory provisions. Good cause existed for the minor period of inactivity and the circuit court abused its discretion by dismissing the action.