Veterans' Land Board of Texas v. Williams

This case involves a question of abuse of discretion in dismissal for want of prosecution. The plaintiffs, Gertrude Williams, et al., brought a trespass to try title suit against the defendant, Veterans’ Land Board in April 1968. An answer was filed, but the plaintiffs made no effort during the succeeding seven and one-half years to bring this suit to trial. During the summer of 1975, the District Court, on its own accord, set three “show cause” hearings during which the seven-year delay could have been explained. Plaintiffs requested postponements in regard to each of the first two hearings.…