The plaintiff law firm brought a motion to reinstate its action against the defendants, which had been administratively dismissed for delay under Rule 48.14.
The delay was primarily caused by the plaintiff's principal failing to provide necessary documents to his various lawyers, as well as a dispute over a pleading of improvident settlement.
The court found that while the plaintiff was a 'sojourner' for a period, he had regained the will to litigate before the dismissal.
Applying the Reid factors and emphasizing the preference for deciding cases on their merits, the court found the delay was not undue, the motion was brought promptly, and the defendants did not suffer significant prejudice.
The motion to reinstate the action was granted.
