The defendant R.B. & R. Cartage Inc. ("RB&R") brought a motion to dismiss the action for delay and for the plaintiffs' failure to comply with a 2018 court order.
The action arose from an oil spill in 2004.
The court found that the plaintiffs were not in breach of the order to set the action down for trial, as a trial record had already been filed.
While the plaintiffs failed to serve expert reports or bring a productions motion, these defaults did not warrant dismissal.
Applying the test for dismissal for delay under Rule 24.01, the court determined that the delay was not intentional and that the plaintiffs rebutted the presumption of prejudice, as relevant medical evidence was available and liability had been admitted.
The motion to dismiss was denied, and the plaintiffs were directed to file an amended trial record to proceed to trial.