O'BRIEN v. Mullapudi

McGIVERIN, Justice.

The question in this case is whether the district court erred in refusing to reinstate plaintiffs’ lawsuit after it was dismissed for want of prosecution under Iowa Rule of Civil Procedure 215.1. Our court of appeals reversed the district court, holding reinstatement was mandatory under the circumstances of this case. We disagree and vacate the decision of the court of appeals and affirm the order of the district court.

I. Background facts and proceedings. This is a medical malpractice action filed by plaintiffs Timothy and Janet O’Brien against two doctors who treated…