Wallace v. Evans

(dissenting) — The majority condones extremely dilatory conduct in bringing a case to trial, and strips our trial courts of their inherent authority to dismiss a case for want of prosecution. In an era when strong case management is needed in our civil justice system, the majority opinion offers yet another opportunity for the tactics of delay in resolving civil disputes. For these reasons, I respectfully dissent.

*581The respondents Wallace sued the petitioners Evans on August 17, 1987, in King County Superior Court. The issue was joined when the Evanses filed an answer on February 4, 1988. The…