Novak v. Orca Oil Co., Inc.

OPINION

BRYNER, Justice,

pro tem.

Scott Novak appeals a superior court order dismissing for want of prosecution his counterclaim against Orea Oil, Inc., and awarding Orea attorney’s fees. Orea cross-appeals, contending that the court should have dismissed the counterclaim with, rather than without, prejudice and that the court erred in allowing Novak access to certain state investigative files.

I. FACTS

Novak became a retail fuel distributor in Cordova in 1987; he bought fuel from Orea, a fuel wholesaler. In March of 1988, Novak filed a complaint with the attorney general’s office, alleging…