Pottorf v. Clark

Plaintiffs filed a complaint alleging that they were injured as the result of defendants’ negligence. Plaintiffs did not comply with defendants’ discovery requests. On November 1, 1982, the trial court allowed defendant Clark’s motion for discovery sanctions. (87 Ill. 2d R. 219.) The court’s order provided that if plaintiffs failed to comply with discovery requests before November 15, 1982, the complaint as against each defendant would automatically be dismissed.

On March 21, 1983, plaintiffs filed a motion to reconsider, which the trial court dismissed for lack of jurisdiction. Subsequently,…