A retail shop owner was sued by a customer on a claim of premises liability. The plaintiff's lawyer, however, failed to move the case forward in a timely manner. 

In recent years, there has been a notable increase in claimants who initiate lawsuits but do not diligently pursue them or adhere to court-ordered deadlines. While state court judges are often hesitant to impose sanctions or enter dispositive rulings in such cases, Malinda Matlock and Garrett Reynolds carefully documented their compliance with all deadlines and made multiple efforts to prompt the plaintiff’s attorney to do the same over a 10-month period. 

Rather than dismissing the case without prejudice, the court entered judgment against the plaintiff securing a decisive victory for the defense. This ruling underscores the importance of diligent case management and reinforces the necessity for all parties to adhere to court-ordered deadlines.