The plaintiffs moved to set aside a registrar’s dismissal order and reinstate a libel action that had been dismissed for delay.
Applying the reinstatement factors, the court found no adequate explanation for the prolonged delay, no prompt motion to reinstate, and actual as well as presumed prejudice to the defendants.
The court emphasized that the delay appeared deliberate rather than inadvertent, and that reinstatement would undermine finality in the administration of justice.
The motion was denied and the dismissal order remained in place.
