dismissal for want of prosecution

When a party who files a lawsuit unreasonably delays moving the lawsuit toward a resolution (delays prosecution of the case), it is presumed the case has been abandoned, and the court may dismiss the lawsuit for want of prosecution. Such a dismissal for want of prosecution is commonly referred to as a DWOP. A party may ask the court to dismiss a case for want of prosecution, or the judge may do so without a request from a party (sua sponte).

In Georgia, if a party who has filed a lawsuit fails to actively pursue the case, it may be presumed that the case has been abandoned. This can lead to the court dismissing the lawsuit for 'want of prosecution,' often abbreviated as DWOP. A dismissal for want of prosecution means that the court has determined the case should not continue due to inactivity. Either party involved in the lawsuit can file a motion to dismiss the case for want of prosecution, or the judge may decide to dismiss the case on their own initiative (sua sponte). This serves as a mechanism to ensure that the legal process is not stalled indefinitely and that the court's resources are used efficiently.

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Civil procedure